Water and Carbon Footprints of Biomass Production Assets: Drip and Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

Graciele Angnes, Adriano Valentim Diotto, Efthymios Rodias and Thiago Libório Romanelli ()
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Graciele Angnes: Laboratory of Systemic Management and Sustainability, Department of Biosystems Engineering, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil
Adriano Valentim Diotto: Department of Water Resources, College of Engineering, Federal University of Lavras—UFLA, Lavras 37203-202, Brazil
Efthymios Rodias: Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO), Centre for Research and Technology—Hellas (CERTH), 11527 Athens, Greece
Thiago Libório Romanelli: Laboratory of Systemic Management and Sustainability, Department of Biosystems Engineering, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Studies on the environmental footprints of agricultural production have strong links with 4 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) established by the United Nations. Irrigation systems are essential tools for increasing agricultural yields, particularly in arid regions. However, the production and assembly of these systems can have significant environmental impacts, including excessive water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Although studies have approached biomass production, few of them have provided data about asset depreciation, such as irrigation systems, machinery, etc. Trying to fill this gap, this study aimed at determining the water and carbon footprints of two commonly used irrigation systems: center pivot and drip. Several variables, including the irrigated area, pump power, filter type, system flow, and pipe length, were analyzed to determine the carbon and water footprints of each component of the irrigation systems. The results reveal that the materials used for pipes and filters had the most significant impact on the water and carbon footprints, with galvanized steel pipes and sand filters having the highest footprints. Additionally, the irrigated area affected the center pivot and drip systems differently, with the depreciation of the irrigation systems being a significant variable for both water and carbon footprints. These results can support the development of sustainable irrigation practices that reduce environmental impacts while enhancing agricultural yields. Decision-makers can use this information to establish a life-cycle database and evaluate the impact of irrigation systems on water and carbon footprints.

Keywords: sustainability; life-cycle assessment; environmental analyses; environmental impacts; environmental footprints; agricultural engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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