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

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 produ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2023-05, Vol.15 (10), p.8199
Main Authors: Angnes, Graciele, Diotto, Adriano Valentim, Rodias, Efthymios, Romanelli, Thiago Libório
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Air pollution
Arid regions
Arid zones
Biomass
Carbon footprint
Center-pivot irrigation
Climate change
Crop yield
Crops
Depreciation
Ecological footprint
Emission standards
Emissions
Energy consumption
Energy efficiency
Environmental studies
Farm buildings
Filters
Footprint analysis
Freshwater resources
Galvanized steels
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases
Irrigation
Irrigation practices
Irrigation systems
Irrigation water
Pipes
Sand filters
Surface water
Sustainable development
Water consumption
Water shortages
Water supply
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su15108199