Comparative assessment of environmental impacts and water scarcity footprint of horticultural crops in Iran.
Environ Res
; 257: 119082, 2024 Sep 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38723987
ABSTRACT
Examining the pollution rates generated by horticultural crops and discerning their impact on water consumption are pivotal considerations for fostering sustainable production of these valuable crops. This study focuses on investigating the environmental consequences and water footprint associated with cultivating diverse horticultural crops in northern Iran. The research employs the life cycle assessment method to gauge environmental impacts by using IMPACT 2002+ and the Water Scarcity Indicator (WSI) to assess water footprints. Notably, the results indicate that walnuts exhibit the highest environmental index, surpassing other crops by sevenfold, and the greatest WSI at 2652.78 m3/ton. Nitrogen fertilizer and on-farm emissions emerged as the primary contributors to pollution among consumed inputs. The assessment underscores human health as a critical concern in the environmental impact of horticultural crop production, likely attributed to elevated chemical input consumption and associated emissions. The findings emphasize the substantial challenges faced by orchard management in Mazandaran province, the primary horticultural crop producer in Iran, grappling with chemical usage and water scarcity.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Productos Agrícolas
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Res
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Irán
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos