Abstract Energy is a vital component of every stage of the crop production process. Therefore, ensuring its efficient use confers tremendous environmental benefits over time. This paper aims to assess the energy use efficiency (EUE) and cost-benefits analysis of four different rice cultivation methods in Central Myanmar from a sustainability standpoint. The cultivation methods analysed include two alternative methods; the system of rice intensification (SRI) method (T1) and the modified SRI method (T2); as well as two conventional rice cultivation methods practised by farmers in that region; the transplanting method (T3) and the direct seeding method (T4). The study found that alternative rice cultivation methods required significantly less total energy inputs than conventional methods. It also showed that EUE was significantly higher in T2 compared to T3 and T4. The cost-benefit analysis indicates that the alternative rice cultivation methods were significantly higher than those of conventional methods. It found that the energy indices and economic parameters of T2 were affected positively as indicated by the fewer inputs required to produce rice using this method. Finally, the study concluded that the modified SRI method is promising for rice cultivation strategy in Central Myanmar and its adjoining regions.

中文翻译：

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水稻种植的能源利用效率和成本效益分析：缅甸传统和替代方法研究

摘要 能源是作物生产过程每个阶段的重要组成部分。因此，确保其有效使用会随着时间的推移带来巨大的环境效益。本文旨在从可持续性的角度评估缅甸中部四种不同水稻种植方法的能源使用效率 (EUE) 和成本效益分析。分析的栽培方法包括两种替代方法；水稻强化（SRI）方法（T1）和改良的SRI方法（T2）的系统；以及该地区农民采用的两种传统水稻种植方法；移栽法（T3）和直播法（T4）。研究发现，与传统方法相比，替代水稻种植方法所需的总能量投入要少得多。它还表明，与 T3 和 T4 相比，T2 中的 EUE 显着更高。成本效益分析表明，替代水稻栽培方法明显高于传统方法。它发现 T2 的能量指数和经济参数受到积极影响，这表明使用这种方法生产水稻所需的投入较少。最后，该研究得出的结论是，改良的 SRI 方法有望用于缅甸中部及其邻近地区的水稻种植战略。