Measuring the energy and environmental indices for apple (production and storage) by life cycle assessment (case study: Semirom county, Isfahan, Iran)

Abstract

Assessment of energy and environmental indices is a common method for estimation the sustainable production in different sectors of agriculture. Considering the area under apple cultivation in Semirom county located in Isfahan province, the present study aimed to investigate the status of energy consumption and emission the environmental pollutants through life cycle assessment for apple production and storage in 2017–2018 cropping season. Required data were collected through questionnaire and interview with apple growers. Based on the results, the average of total required energy input and the yield of apple orchard were obtained as 116,505 ​MJha−1 and 34,951 ​kgha−1, respectively. For post-harvest operations, the average of total energy inputs was estimated as 15,727 ​MJ ​t−1. In apple orchard, the contribution of fuel, pesticides and transportation to total energy input were 58%, 12% and 11%, respectively, while in post-harvest section, the share of apple baskets and electricity in total energy input were 50% and 46%, respectively. Assessment of energy indices showed that energy ratio, energy productivity, specific energy and energy net-added were 0.72, 0.3 ​kgMJ−1, 3.33 ​MJ ​kg−1 and -32621 ​MJha−1, respectively. Based on the results obtained from environmental impact assessment of apple, the highest normalized pollution in apple orchard was related to Eutrophication and Freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity impact categories with the amount of 473×10−9 and 137×10−9, respectively, while in post-harvest operations, Marine aquatic ecotoxicity and Acidification impact categories had highest amounts as 0.0802×10−9 and 0.0121×10−9, respectively. Based on the results, diesel fuel and manure with the share of 97% of total emissions were identified as the environmental hotspots in apple orchard.