Effects of Alternative Fertilization and Irrigation Practices on the Energy Use and Carbon Footprint of Canning Peach Orchards

Persefoni Maletsika, Chris Cavalaris, Vasileios Giouvanis and George D. Nanos
Additional contact information
Persefoni Maletsika: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Chris Cavalaris: Laboratory of Farm Mechanization, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Vasileios Giouvanis: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
George D. Nanos: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Throughout peach orchards in Greece, plant protection, fertilization and irrigation are often conducted empirically, negatively affecting energy use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions). The aim of this study was to apply alternative fertilization and irrigation practices in canning peach orchards to improve nutrient and irrigation water management and to assess yield, energy input–output and the carbon footprint of the alternative cultivation practices for three important clingstone cultivars of different ripening periods. Energy use analysis revealed that the cultivation practice with the highest energy use was almost always irrigation, followed by fertilization, plant protection, weed control and pruning. Electricity, fuels, fertilizers and machinery presented the highest energy requirements. Alternative fertilization, in combination with deficit irrigation (DI), was more energy efficient compared to farmers’ practices in all cultivars based on energy use efficiency, energy productivity and specific energy. Irrigation was the cultivation practice with the highest impact on GHG emissions due to electricity and, secondly, to fuel consumption. Alternative fertilization and DI decreased the intensity (kg CO 2 eq kg −1 ) of the emitted GHG compared to farmers’ practices. In conclusion, alternative fertilization and irrigation practices improved energy use efficiency and decreased the carbon footprint of the canning peach orchards by improving yield and decreasing fertilizer and irrigation water input.

Keywords: Prunus persica; tree nutrition; water management; energy use efficiency; greenhouse gas emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/14/8583/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/14/8583/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:14:p:8583-:d:861959

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().