Most significant substances of LCA to Mediterranean Greenhouse Horticulture

摘要

LCA has been used as a tool to identify the environmental burdens associated to protected cultivation in the Mediterranean area. A tomato crop was cultivated in a steel-framed greenhouse; plants were transplanted directly in the soil. With the exception of toxicity indicators, the main sources of environmental impact were production and use of the fertilizer needed, and the manufacture of the greenhouse structure. From the 470 substances considered in this study, only 21 contributed more than 5% of the total impact of one category. Among the 21 substances, 16 contributed to air or water emissions, being 6 of them pesticides, and 5 were non-renewable resources. Results from this study also suggest that there is a potential for simplifying LCA methodology by considering a restricted number of substances.