Abstract
Seedling grafting is an essential technique that is often expressed as the fusion of two different small plants to make an organism with superior properties. Grafted seedlings have strategic and economic importance because they affect the yield of other agricultural products and final product quality. However, grafted seedling production consumes more resources than normal seedlings; therefore, its environmental effects carry great importance for sustainable agricultural production whilst in life-cycle assessment (LCA) literature, little research exists about this subject. This cradle-to-farm-gate LCA study focuses on grafted tomato seedling production in Antalya, Turkey and original data compiled by face-to-face surveys with seedling producers are used. It aims to analyze and discuss the environmental impacts of energy, fertilizers, pesticides, disinfectants, peat, perlite, vermiculite, inserts, trays, grafting sticks, clips, plastic sheeting, packaging used in production. Findings reveal that coal for greenhouse heating in the energy category and expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays in supporting materials category have higher impacts. Therefore, rigid plastic alternatives of EPS with higher recycling potential are discussed. After creating a scenario to compare EPS and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as raw materials, the results indicate that HDPE has lower damage potential than EPS in the human health, ecosystems, and resources categories.
Highlights
In Turkey, the first greenhouse activities began in the 1940s [1], and greenhouse cultivation increased significantly after the 1980s in terms of cultivated areas
Especially grafted seedlings, have strategic and economic importance because they affect the yield of other agricultural products and final product quality
Covering the cradle-to-farm-gate period, this study was conducted in nurseries near Antalya province city center, and an life-cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of one grafted tomato seedling from the production stage to the packaging phase was made
Summary
In Turkey, the first greenhouse activities began in the 1940s [1], and greenhouse cultivation increased significantly after the 1980s in terms of cultivated areas. The seedling sector, which has the most important input share in greenhouse production, started its activities in Antalya province in the 1980s and increased its commercial activities with modern greenhouses in the 1990s [2]. According to the official data of 2017, total vegetable seedling production is approximately 2.9 billion plants and tomato seedling has the highest share with 36.9%. The total amount of grafted seedling produced in 2017 was 54 million plants and 92.3% of this quantity was produced in the Antalya province [3]. Especially grafted seedlings, have strategic and economic importance because they affect the yield of other agricultural products and final product quality
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