Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of Sweet Potato Production on Plantations of Various Sizes in South China

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important starch-producing crop used worldwide. However, few studies have been conducted on the energy efficient, cost benefit, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of sweet production. To address this issue, data were collected using a questionnaire for face-to-face interviews 78 growers 74 reference (i.e., rice, maize, potato) in Guangdong province. Results revealed that production exhibited highest value efficiency (0.83 kg MJ−1) economic productivity (0.85 CNY−1) among four crops. The GHG from (1165 CO2-eq ha−1) significantly higher than rice maize but lower potatoes. Moreover, plantation size (p < 0.05) affected inputs labor, machinery, diesel fuel further rate, efficiency, small-size farms (<2.0 ha) (0.97 lowest (1045 ha−1). Quartering assessments based productivity, showed fertilizers labor major contributors to consumption, costs, emissions. Future efforts should be made reduce fertilizer application increase use sustainable