The aims of this study were to determine direct input energy, indirect energy and other energy use indices in mango production in a group of mango plantation of a research farm in Nigeria. The study also estimated the economic indices of mango production in the study area and energy potentials of mango by-products. The average energy consumption of the plantations investigated in this study is 15,015.16 MJ ha(-1). Out of the total energy, 93% was direct and 7% was indirect. Renewable energy accounted for 21% and energy usage efficiency was found to be 1.3. The total energy input into the production of 1 kg of mango was estimated to be 0.70 MJ. The dominant contribution to input was energy in the form of diesel used in tractor operation and captive power generation (56%), followed by human labor used for land preparation, cultural practices and harvesting (33%), machinery (5%) and chemicals, mainly herbicides (4%). The use of energetically available residues of mango could give an average value addition of 57,067 MJ/ha. The cost of mango production per hectare was found to be 2246 $ ha(-1). As a result of benefit-cost ratio value (1.24), energy use efficiency and the energy value addition from mango residues, mango production was found to be economically efficient in the study area. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.