The purpose of this study was to undertake an economical analysis in terms of energy input and output of commercial and traditional potato production facilities in Kurdistan, Iran. Data were collected for the study from 50 commercial and 50 traditional potato farms. Farm selection was based on a random sampling method and inquiries were conducted by face-to-face interviews from May 2008 to August 2009. Results indicated that total energy inputs for commercial and traditional farms were 93330.67 and 44279.52 MJ ha -1 , respectively. Results showed that in commercial farming systems shares of agrochemicals, diesel fuel plus machinery, seed, irrigation water, farmyard manure and human labor were 42.5%, 25.06%, 15.40%, 10.47%, 4.34%, and 1.76%, respectively; while in traditional farming systems shares of the aforementioned inputs were 18.21%, 27.51%, 18.96%, 26.28%, 1.80%, and 7.05%, respectively. About 21.47% of total energy input in commercial potato production was from renewable energy sources (human labor, seeds, farmyard manure) but that figure increased to 27.81% for traditional systems. Mean energy use efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity, and net energy of commercial systems were 1.37, 2.62 MJ kg -1 , 0.38 kg MJ -1 , and 34913.07 MJ ha -1 , respectively, and in traditional systems rates of these afore-mentioned parameters were 1.41, 2.55 MJ kg -1 , 0.39 kg MJ -1 , and 18174.91 MJ ha -1 , respectively. These results indicate an intensive use of inputs in potato production not accompanied by an increase in final productivity. Cost analysis revealed that the total cost of production for one hectare of commercial and traditional potato production were 4162.53 and 1984.16 US$, respectively. Net returns for one hectare of commercial and traditional systems were $4743.33 and $2352.91, respectively.
