The global warming potential of straw-return can be reduced by application of straw-decomposing microbial inoculants and biochar in rice-wheat production systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 252 ◽  
pp. 835-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchun Ma ◽  
De Li Liu ◽  
Graeme Schwenke ◽  
Bo Yang
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Microbial Inoculants ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
Straw Return

scholarly journals Environmental Impact Assessments of Integrated Food and Non-Food Production Systems in Italy and Denmark

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 849
Author(s):  
Lisa Mølgaard Lehmann ◽  
Magdalena Borzęcka ◽  
Katarzyna Żyłowska ◽  
Andrea Pisanelli ◽  
Giuseppe Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Production System ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Silvopastoral System ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
Conventional Production

Given the environmental footprints of the conventional agriculture, it is imperative to test and validate alternative production systems, with lower environmental impacts to mitigate and adapt our production systems. In this study, we identified six production systems, four in Italy and two in Denmark, to assess the environmental footprint for comparison among the production systems and additionally with conventional production systems. SimaPro 8.4 software was used to carry out the life cycle impact assessment. Among other indicators, three significantly important indicators, namely global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication, were used as the proxy for life cycle impact assessment. In Italy, the production systems compared were silvopastoral, organic, traditional, and conventional olive production systems, whereas in Denmark, combined food and energy production system was compared with the conventional wheat production system. Among the six production systems, conventional wheat production system in Denmark accounted for highest global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication. In Italy, global warming potential was highest in traditional agroforestry and lowest in the silvopastoral system whereas acidification and eutrophication were lowest in the traditional production system with high acidification effects from the silvopastoral system. In Italy, machinery use contributed the highest greenhouse gas emissions in silvopastoral and organic production systems, while the large contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer was recorded in the traditional and conventional production systems. In Denmark, the combined food and energy system had lower environmental impacts compared to the conventional wheat production system according to the three indicators. For both systems in Denmark, the main contribution to greenhouse gas emission was due to fertilizer and manure application. The study showed that integrated food and non-food systems are more environmentally friendly and less polluting compared to the conventional wheat production system in Denmark with use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation. The study can contribute to informed decision making by the land managers and policy makers for promotion of environmentally friendly food and non-food production practices, to meet the European Union targets of providing biomass-based materials and energy to contribute to the bio-based economy in Europe and beyond.

scholarly journals Comparative Global Warming Potential as Environment Protection Criteria of Production Systems: A Case Study of Philippine Chicken Meat Sector

2020 ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Ma. Theresa M. Espino ◽  
Luzvisminda M. Bellotindos Bellotindos
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Chicken Meat ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Production Yield ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Meat Sector

Demand for chicken meat has been increasing tremendously over the years globally at an average 2.4% per annum and in the Philippines at an average of 3.4% per annum. In view of the sustainable development goal (SDG) 13: Climate Change, the chicken meat sector needs to embark on more efficient production. It is not just about producing enough food, but doing it in a sustainable way. This study aimed to demonstrate the identification, evaluation and comparison of the environmental impacts of Philippine chicken meat production systems. The analysis was done through the cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and supported with the global livestock environmental assessment model interactive (GLEAM-i) system. The study evaluated 4 production systems in various sites, namely A: intensive broiler operations; B: small-scale broiler operations with own organic feeds; C: backyard free-range operations with own organic feeds; and D: backyard free-range operations using commercial feeds. Based on a functional unit of 1kg carcass weight (CW), the respective equivalent global warming potential (GWP) were established. System A (5.0 kg CO2-eq kg-1 CW) has the lowest GWP, followed by B (5.15 kg CO2-eq kg-1 CW), D (9.79 kg CO2-eq kg-1 CW) and C (13.51 kg CO2-eq kg-1 CW). Through LCA, the identified improvement opportunities include using locally sourced alternative for feed ingredient for A; increasing production yield to maximize the fixed inputs for B and C; and using locally sourced feed alternatives and increasing production yield for D. Well-established GWP indicators can help in shaping production and consumption patterns. It can help producers in improving operations and in establishing transparency and competitive advantage. While for consumers, it can make them well-informed and empowered in making eco-conscious purchases. This can have a long-term effect on awareness and involvement in environmental protection initiatives among producers, consumers and other concerned groups.

scholarly journals Modeling Global Warming Potential, Variable Costs, and Water Use of Young Plant Production System Components Using Life Cycle Assessment

HortScience ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 1356-1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewayne L. Ingram ◽  
Charles R. Hall ◽  
Joshua Knight
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Foliage Plants ◽  
Heating And Cooling

The components for two production systems for young foliage plants in 72-count propagation trays were analyzed using life cycle assessment (LCA) procedures. The systems differed by greenhouse type, bench size and arrangement, rainwater capture, and irrigation/fertilization methods. System A was modeled as a gutter-connected, rounded-arch greenhouse without a ridge vent and covered with double-layer polyethylene, and the plants were fertigated through sprinklers on stationary benches. System B was modeled as a more modern gutter-connected, Dutch-style greenhouse using natural ventilation, and moveable, ebb-flood production tables. Inventories of input products, equipment use, and labor were generated from the protocols for those scenarios and a LCA was conducted to determine impacts on the respective greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and the subsequent carbon footprint (CF) of foliage plants at the farm gate. CF is expressed in global warming potential for a 100-year period (GWP) in units of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2e). The GWP of the 72-count trays were calculated as 4.225 and 2.276 kg CO2e with variable costs of $25.251 and $24.857 for trays of foliage plants grown using Systems A and B, respectively. The GWP of most inputs and processes were similar between the two systems. Generally, the more modern greenhouse in System B was more efficient in terms of space use for production, heating and cooling, fertilization, and water use. While overhead costs were not measured, these differences in efficiency would also help to offset any increases in overhead costs per square foot associated with higher-cost, more modern greenhouse facilities. Thus, growers should consider the gains in efficiency and their influences on CF, variable costs (and overhead costs) when making future decisions regarding investment in greenhouse structures.

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