Seedbed preparation for arable crops : environmental impact of alternative mechanical solutions
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2017
Citazione:
Seedbed preparation for arable crops : environmental impact of alternative mechanical solutions / D. Lovarelli, J. Bacenetti. - In: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH. - ISSN 0167-1987. - 174(2017), pp. 156-168. [10.1016/j.still.2017.06.006]
Abstract:
This study quantifies, using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, the environmental impact of sequences of
operations for seedbed preparation for arable crops under different soil textures and soil refinement intensities.
Comparing the environmental loads of alternative sequences of operations permitted to detect the most environmentally
sustainable sequence in each working condition.
To this purpose, 13 alternative sequences of field operations for seedbed preparation were analysed, considering
primary and secondary soil tillage and minimum tillage. The study was carried out considering a cradle
to farm gate perspective and selecting as functional unit “1 ha tilled with an appropriate soil refinement for
sowing and seed germination”. Three 60-ha farms in Northern Italy were considered. Inventory data (e.g., farm
and field information, machinery fleets, fuel, lubricant and materials consumptions and exhaust gases emissions)
were calculated with the model ENVIAM (ENVironmental Inventory of Agricultural Machinery operations).
The impact assessment was completed with the ReCiPe characterisation method. Results showed that seedbed
preparation completed with two implements (one for primary and one for secondary soil tillage) instead of three
(e.g., one for primary and two for secondary soil tillage) results in a better environmental performance on impact
categories (e.g., eutrophication, ecotoxicity and metals depletion) affected by the manufacturing phases and by
the consumption of materials along machinery life span. The impact categories affected by fuel consumption and
exhaust gases emissions showed the best results with low energy-consumptive operations (e.g., slatted plough,
no-Power Take Off harrow and minimum tillage). Coarse textured soils and soils lowly refined (i.e. unrefined soil
particles adapt for crops characterized by seeds with a size close to that of winter crops or by high seed density)
showed low burdens on all impact categories, whereas fine textured and highly refined soils (i.e. small soil
particles adapt for crops with small seeds or by low seed density) were responsible for the highest impacts. This
is primarily due to the larger number of harrowing repetitions and of energy and fossil fuel consumption.
The results can be up-scaled to arable crop production systems with similar pedo-climatic and operative features,
such as other Mediterranean countries. Farmers associations, stakeholders and politicians could promote policies and
define incentives that encourage producers to adapt to more environmentally sustainable crop productions.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Life Cycle Assessment; Mechanisation; Primary soil tillage; Secondary soil tillage; Soil refinement; Soil texture
Elenco autori:
D. Lovarelli, J. Bacenetti
Link alla scheda completa: