Environmental assessment of dehydrated alfalfa production in Spain

Alejandro Gallego, Almudena Hospido, María Teresa Moreira and Gumersindo Feijoo

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2011, vol. 55, issue 11, 1005-1012

Abstract: Alfalfa is the major forage crop produced in temperate regions worlwide. Although this crop is currently used mainly for producing high-value livestock feed, its application for bioenergy production is a recent focus of interest. Even though it is not mandatory, alfalfa is normally dried in order to improve the quality of the final product. In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to quantify the environmental impacts linked to alfalfa production in the major cultivation zone in Spain (Ebro Valley), including field activities, dehydration and transport to farms for livestock feeding. In addition, the identification of the most relevant processes contributing to the environmental impact and the potential improvements actions were also defined as objectives. Inventory data were obtained mainly from interviews with farmers complemented with published literature and comments from experts.

Keywords: Alfalfa; Ebro Valley; Environmental hot spots; Life Cycle Assessment; Feed; Livestock (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:55:y:2011:i:11:p:1005-1012

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.05.010

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