Carbon Fluxes in Sustainable Tree Crops: Field, Ecosystem and Global Dimension

Giuseppe Montanaro, Davide Amato, Nunzio Briglia, Carlo Russo and Vitale Nuzzo
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Giuseppe Montanaro: Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment, and Cultural Heritage (DICEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Poteza, Italy
Davide Amato: Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment, and Cultural Heritage (DICEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Poteza, Italy
Nunzio Briglia: Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment, and Cultural Heritage (DICEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Poteza, Italy
Carlo Russo: Department of Economy Management and Territory, University of Foggia, Via Da Zara 11, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Vitale Nuzzo: Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment, and Cultural Heritage (DICEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Poteza, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Carbon (C) budget at cropping systems has not only agronomic but also environmental relevance because of their contribution to both emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Ideally, sustainable orchards are expected to remove atmospheric CO 2 at a rate greater than that of the emissions because of (i) optimized biology of the system and (ii) reduced on-site/offsite inputs sourced by the technosphere. However, such a computation might produce inconsistent results and in turn biased communication on sustainability of the cropping systems because C accounting framework(s) are used under unclear context. This study examined the sustainability of orchards in terms of impact on GHGs focusing its significance at the field, ecosystem and global dimension analyzing some operational aspects and limitations of existing frameworks (e.g., net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB), life cycle assessment (LCA)). Global relevance of sustainable orchard was also discussed considering the C sequestration at cropland as instructed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The uniqueness of olive tree lifespan duration and C sequestration is discussed within the Product Environmental Footprint of agrifood product. The paper also highlighted overlapping components among the NECB, LCA and IPCC frameworks and the need for an integrated C accounting scheme for a more comprehensive and detailed mapping of sustainability in agriculture.

Keywords: carbon sequestration; GHG; NECB; LCA; olive; PEF; soil organic carbon; tree biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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