Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment
This paper aimed to analyse and compare the environmental and energy sustainability of two orchards (peach versus kiwifruit) located in Southern Italy using Life Cycle Thinking. To this end, anthropogenic energy, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, biogenic energy and carbon gains were also consid...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/10/2556 |
| _version_ | 1827652213528330240 |
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| author | Maria Pergola Alessandro Persiani Daniele D’Ammaro Vittoria Pastore Carmine D’Adamo Assunta Maria Palese Giuseppe Celano |
| author_facet | Maria Pergola Alessandro Persiani Daniele D’Ammaro Vittoria Pastore Carmine D’Adamo Assunta Maria Palese Giuseppe Celano |
| author_sort | Maria Pergola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper aimed to analyse and compare the environmental and energy sustainability of two orchards (peach versus kiwifruit) located in Southern Italy using Life Cycle Thinking. To this end, anthropogenic energy, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, biogenic energy and carbon gains were also considered through Life Cycle Assessment methodology and Energy Analysis. The C–CO<sub>2</sub> balance was calculated as the difference between total C–CO<sub>2</sub> stored in soil and trees, at the end of their life cycles, and orchards Carbon Footprint (CF). The results showed that the production of 1 kg of peaches caused minor impacts, especially with reference to CF (0.124 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq against 0.145 for kiwifruit), while it required 1.56 MJ of energy against 1.32 MJ for kiwifruit. In both orchards the main sources of direct CO<sub>2</sub> emissions came from fuel combustion, nitrous oxide release by crop residue decomposition, and nitrogenous fertilizer distribution. Nevertheless, both orchards had sustainable environmental and energy results. Despite the management of the orchards releasing CO<sub>2</sub> and consuming energy, they showed a significant capacity to store CO<sub>2</sub> and energy, proving to be virtuous systems. This research can give useful indications for farmers, farmer associations, technicians, and stakeholders to improve orchard management efficiency. The net balance approach seems to be an adequate strategy, allowing best estimation of environmental impacts and guiding farmer decisions towards more sustainable alternatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:52:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cb420a0d7f042f3b7f42e3418573162 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:52:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cb420a0d7f042f3b7f42e34185731622023-11-23T22:29:14ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-10-011210255610.3390/agronomy12102556Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean EnvironmentMaria Pergola0Alessandro Persiani1Daniele D’Ammaro2Vittoria Pastore3Carmine D’Adamo4Assunta Maria Palese5Giuseppe Celano6Degree Course of Agriculture, DIFARMA, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyAges s.r.l. s-Spin-Off Accademico, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDipartimento delle Culture Europee e del Mediterraneo: Architettura, Ambiente, Patrimoni Culturali (DiCEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via San Rocco, 75100 Matera, ItalyAges s.r.l. s-Spin-Off Accademico, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, ItalyAges s.r.l. s-Spin-Off Accademico, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, ItalyAges s.r.l. s-Spin-Off Accademico, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDegree Course of Agriculture, DIFARMA, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyThis paper aimed to analyse and compare the environmental and energy sustainability of two orchards (peach versus kiwifruit) located in Southern Italy using Life Cycle Thinking. To this end, anthropogenic energy, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, biogenic energy and carbon gains were also considered through Life Cycle Assessment methodology and Energy Analysis. The C–CO<sub>2</sub> balance was calculated as the difference between total C–CO<sub>2</sub> stored in soil and trees, at the end of their life cycles, and orchards Carbon Footprint (CF). The results showed that the production of 1 kg of peaches caused minor impacts, especially with reference to CF (0.124 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq against 0.145 for kiwifruit), while it required 1.56 MJ of energy against 1.32 MJ for kiwifruit. In both orchards the main sources of direct CO<sub>2</sub> emissions came from fuel combustion, nitrous oxide release by crop residue decomposition, and nitrogenous fertilizer distribution. Nevertheless, both orchards had sustainable environmental and energy results. Despite the management of the orchards releasing CO<sub>2</sub> and consuming energy, they showed a significant capacity to store CO<sub>2</sub> and energy, proving to be virtuous systems. This research can give useful indications for farmers, farmer associations, technicians, and stakeholders to improve orchard management efficiency. The net balance approach seems to be an adequate strategy, allowing best estimation of environmental impacts and guiding farmer decisions towards more sustainable alternatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/10/2556carbon footprintRothC modelCO<sub>2</sub> balanceenergy balancesustainability |
| spellingShingle | Maria Pergola Alessandro Persiani Daniele D’Ammaro Vittoria Pastore Carmine D’Adamo Assunta Maria Palese Giuseppe Celano Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment Agronomy carbon footprint RothC model CO<sub>2</sub> balance energy balance sustainability |
| title | Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment |
| title_full | Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment |
| title_short | Environmental and Energy Analysis of Two Orchard Systems: A Case Study in Mediterranean Environment |
| title_sort | environmental and energy analysis of two orchard systems a case study in mediterranean environment |
| topic | carbon footprint RothC model CO<sub>2</sub> balance energy balance sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/10/2556 |
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