Evaluating the Environmental Dimensions of Cucumber Greenhouses Using Life Cycle Assessment (Case Study: East-Azarbaijan Province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. in Agricultural Mechanization, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor in Department of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor in Department of Agricultural Machinery, Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Agricultural production systems have a wide and varied range of energy consumption and environmental publications. Therefore, the study of environmental dimensions of any agricultural product is necessary. In this study, an integrated approach was used to assess and evaluate the greenhouse cucumber production process in East-Azarbaijan using life cycle assessment. The boundary of the system included all activities related to the production, transport and consumption of various inputs for the production of greenhouse cucumbers. Regarding the conditions of the study area, which has cold and dry air, information on spring cucumber cultivation was investigated. After collecting basic information, we calculated the life cycle log information (including three parts of consumption inputs, direct and indirect agricultural publications), and after obtaining indirect publications (Publication to Water, Publications to the Air and Publications to the Soil), the amount Pollutants were calculated in greenhouse cucumber production. According to the results of the study, the highest amount of contamination with 2914.81 kg of dichlorobenzene 861 was related to free water poisoning. The depletion of fossil resources with 1500 MJ was the second generation of pollutants, and the potential for global warming with a share of 183 Kg of carbon dioxide was the third largest pollutant.

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