Document Type : Research Article
Authors
Department of Water Engineering, College of Water and Soil, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
Due to the adverse impacts of agricultural production activities on the environment particularly water and soil pollution and pressure on limited natural resources determining an optimal cropping pattern is one of the most important management decisions. Such a decision should be made in a way that, while maintaining crop productivity and satisfactory yields, minimizes the environmental impacts associated with the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water. Simultaneous assessment of environmental impacts and water consumption can provide valuable guidance for sustainable cropping planning in arid and water-scarce regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental impacts and water consumption of eight major agricultural crops barley, wheat, canola, maize, cucumber, onion, potato, and tomato in the arid region of Jiroft using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach and analysis of green, blue, and grey water footprints.
Materials and Methods
To this end, data on input consumption, including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and energy, as well as crop yields, were collected, and environmental impacts were calculated in three categories: human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. For accurate estimation of crop water requirements and green and blue water footprints, climatic and precipitation data for the period 1993–2023 obtained from the Iranian Meteorological Organization were used, and actual crop water consumption was calculated based on effective rainfall, evapotranspiration, and crop growth period. The grey water footprint was also determined based on chemical fertilizer use and their potential impacts on water quality.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that cereal and oilseed crops such as canola, wheat, barley, and maize imposed the highest environmental burdens. Canola exhibited the greatest negative impact with a single-score value of 86.19 points, compared with cucumber (4.09 points) and onion (5.65 points). In the human health category, canola caused the highest damage (65.23 points), whereas vegetables and tuber crops showed much lower impacts. Regarding ecosystem quality, canola had the highest negative effect (20.25 points), while barley showed the lowest impact (0.33 points). In terms of resource depletion, wheat contributed the most (0.289 points), followed by canola (0.176 points). Water footprint analysis indicated that cereals had the highest blue and grey water consumption, with total water footprints of barley and wheat reaching 2508.19 and 2164.57 m³.t⁻¹, respectively, whereas vegetables and tuber crops such as potato had the lowest water footprint (182.41 m³.t⁻¹). The combined results of LCA and water footprint analysis consistently demonstrated that input-intensive and water-demanding crops such as canola and cereals exert substantial pressure on water resources and the environment, while vegetables and tuber crops have comparatively lower impacts.
Conclusion
Based on the LCA results and the environmental burdens of the crops, cultivation priority should be given to those with the lowest environmental impacts. Accordingly, vegetables such as cucumber and onion, as well as tuber crops like potato—which exhibit significantly lower environmental burdens—should be prioritized for cultivation. Subsequently, maize and high-input cereals such as wheat and barley may be cultivated. Canola, due to its highest environmental burden, should be placed last in the cropping priority and cultivated only under careful management of inputs and water resources in order to reduce pressure on the ecosystem and the region’s limited resources. According to the results, the water footprint and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyses provide consistent and complementary findings. Crops with higher environmental burdens in the LCA, such as canola and cereals, also exhibit the highest blue and grey water consumption, exerting greater pressure on the region’s water resources. In contrast, crops with lower environmental burdens, such as vegetables and tuber crops, have smaller water footprints and place less strain on water resources. Based on these findings, prioritizing the cultivation of low-impact crops along with optimized management of inputs and water resources can significantly reduce environmental burdens and water consumption. This study demonstrates that integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with water footprint analysis is an effective tool for sustainable agricultural planning and for reducing pressure on limited environmental resources.
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