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This study examines the energy requirement and energy input–output relationship of colocasia-based cropping systems viz., Colocasia–onion–frenchbean, colocasia–gardenpea–frenchbean, colocasia–wheat–okra, colocasia–radish–potato, colocasia–cabbage–frenchbean, colocasia–coriander–cauliflower–frenchbean, colocasia–corinder–tomato and rice–wheat in the Indian Himalayas. Results revealed that potato consumed the highest total input energy (25084 MJ/ha) and the least was in coriander (5108 MJ/ha). System productivity in terms of colocasia equivalent yield was highest with colocasia–onion–frenchbean system (52.38 t/ha). Mineral fertilizers (50–62%), seed (8–26%) and irrigation water (11–17%) consumed the bulk of the input energy for all cropping systems. The total input energy was highest under colocasia–radish–potato (59919 MJ/ha) and the lowest in rice–wheat (38244 MJ/ha). Colocasia …