Investigating the environmental impacts for peanut production in Astaneh Ashrafieh based on nitrogen fertilizer consumption through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

In this study, in order to determine the environmental impacts of peanut production in Astaneh Ashrafieh based on nitrogen fertilizer consumption a research was conducted using life cycle assessment methodology in 2015. A field experimental was performed with randomized complete block design in three levels of nitrogen consumption (0, 30 and 60 kgha-1) in three replications. These effects in six groups; the global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication, the depletion of fossil resources, the depletion of potassium and the depletion of phosphate were investigated. Two functional units included one tonne of peanut and generation of 1000 MJ energy were considered to evaluate the environmental impacts. The results showed that the environmental index (Eco-indeX) with regard to global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication for treatment of control, 30 and 60 kg of nitrogen per hectare were 0.18, 0.52 and 0.66, respectively. Also, resources depletion index (RDI) for one-ton production of peanut with regard to depletion of fossil resources, the depletion of potassium and the depletion of phosphate for treatment of control, 30 and 60 kg of nitrogen per hectare were determined to be 0.80, 0.53 and 0.30, respectively. Overall, the Eco-Index impact categories (global warming, acidification, terrestrial eutrophication) showed the greatest negative effects on the environment for the highest level of nitrogen consumption.