Aquaponics and sustainability: The comparison of two different aquaponic techniques using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Aquaponics is generally regarded as a sustainable practice, but its environmental burdens were not yet deeply investigated. In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impacts of two hypothetical coupled aquaponics systems (CAPS): Raft System (RAFT) and Media-Filled Beds System (MFBS). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were considered as cultivated species in both systems. The Simapro^© software V.8.0 was used for calculation. The comparison between the two virtual systems indicated the floating technique as the less impacting one. Even though energy consumption appears to be higher in the floating system, LCA results were markedly influenced by the extensive use of inert materials in MFSB. In both systems, contribution analyses underlined that the main environmental impacts are related to infrastructures, electricity and fish feed. The LCA analyses carried out in this study highlights that the choice of less impacting materials, and the optimization of management practices, should be taken as priorities in order to reduce environmental impacts of this activity.     

Environmental performances of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) cultivated in fertile and marginal lands: A case study in the Mediterranean

Perennial rhizomatous grasses (PRGs) tend to have a high yield combined with a low environmental impact. Cultivation in marginal or poorly cultivated land is recommended in order not to compromise food security and to overcome land use controversies. However, the environmental impacts of using different types of soil are still unclear. We thus assessed the environmental impact of two giant reed (GR) systems cultivated in a fertile soil (FS) and in a marginal soil (MS) through a cradle-to-plant gate LCA. We analyzed energy balance, GHG emissions (including LUC, not including iLUC), and the main impacts on air, water and soil quality. In both systems the annualized soil carbon sequestration was more than twofold the total GHG emitted, equal to −6464 kg CO₂eq ha⁻¹ in FS and −5757 kg CO₂eq ha⁻¹ in MS. Overall, soil characteristics affected not only GR yield level, but also its environmental impact, which seems to be higher in the MS system both on a hectare and tonne basis. The production of GR biomass in marginal soil could thus lead to higher environmental impacts and a more extensive land requirement.     

Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from turf management of two Swedish golf courses

Turf management on golf courses entails frequent maintenance activities, such as mowing, irrigation and fertilisation, and relies on purchased inputs for optimal performance and aesthetic quality. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, this study evaluated energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from management of two Swedish golf courses, divided into green, tee, fairway and rough, and identified options for improved management. Energy use and GHG emissions per unit area were highest for greens, followed by tees, fairways and roughs. However, when considering the entire golf course, both energy use and GHG emissions were mainly related to fairway and rough maintenance due to their larger area. Emissions of GHG for the two golf courses were 1.0 and 1.6 Mg CO₂e ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ as an area-weighted average, while the energy use was 14 and 19 GJ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Mowing was the most energy-consuming activity, contributing 21 and 27% of the primary energy use for the two golf courses. In addition, irrigation and manufacturing of mineral fertiliser and machinery resulted in considerable energy use. Mowing and emissions associated with fertilisation (manufacturing of N fertiliser and soil emissions of N₂O occurring after application) contributed most to GHG emissions. Including the estimated mean annual soil C sequestration rate for fairway and rough in the assessment considerably reduced the carbon footprint for fairway and turned the rough into a sink for GHG. Emissions of N₂O from decomposition of grass clippings may be a potential hotspot for GHG emissions, but the high spatial and temporal variability of values reported in the literature makes it difficult to estimate these emissions for specific management regimes. Lowering the application rate of N mineral fertiliser, particularly on fairways, should be a high priority for golf courses trying to reduce their carbon footprint. However, measures must be adapted to the prevailing conditions at the specific golf course and the requirements set by golfers.     

Analysis of the uncertainty associated with the estimation of nitrogen losses from farming systems

This work describes the analysis of the uncertainty linked to the annual direct and indirect losses of different nitrogenous compounds at the scale of a group of farms. The nitrogen (N) forms taken into account are: ammonia (NH₃), nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), dinitrogen (N₂) and nitrate (NO₃). The gaseous N emissions for the different components of the farms are estimated with a selection of adapted emission factors. The NO₃ losses at the farm scale are calculated as the difference between the surplus of the farm-gate N balance and the gaseous N emissions.     

Comparative life cycle environmental impacts of three beef production strategies in the Upper Midwestern United States

We used ISO-compliant life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the cumulative energy use, ecological footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophying emissions associated with models of three beef production strategies as currently practiced in the Upper Midwestern United States. Specifically we examined systems where calves were either: weaned directly to feedlots; weaned to out-of-state wheat pastures (backgrounded) then finished in feedlots; or finished wholly on managed pasture and hay. Impacts per live-weight kg of beef produced were highest for pasture-finished beef for all impact categories and lowest for feedlot-finished beef, assuming equilibrium conditions in soil organic carbon fluxes across systems. A sensitivity analysis indicated the possibility of substantial reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions for pasture systems under conditions of positive soil organic carbon sequestration potential. Forage utilization rates were also found to have a modest influence on impact levels in pasture-based beef production. Three measures of resource use efficiency were applied and indicated that beef production, whether feedlot or pasture-based, generates lower edible resource returns on material/energy investment relative to other food production strategies.     

基于生命周期评价的木结构环境影响评价方法

为了完善木结构建筑的环境影响评价方法,基于生命周期评价体系和国内外学者建立的关于建筑物的生命周期评价模型,对我国木结构建筑的环境影响评价方法进行了研究,阐述了木结构建筑生命周期评价的4个步骤：确定目标与范围、清单分析、影响评价和结果解释,着重介绍了木结构建筑的环境影响评价,指出了木结构建筑生命周期评价的发展方向.     

湖北省集约化生猪生产系统的环境影响评估

为了解湖北省集约化生猪养殖系统的资源消耗及环境影响程度和识别重点生产环节造成的环境问题,基于生命周期评价(life cycle assessment,LCA)理论和Sima Pro(Version7.1.8)软件,利用Eco-indicator99生态指数法环境影响评价指标体系对湖北省集约化生猪养殖系统的环境影响进行了评估。结果表明:1)集约化养殖系统的环境单一评分为45.13分;2)主要的影响类型是土地占用(59.84%)、吸入无机物对呼吸系统损害(14.29%)、化石资源消耗(9.97%)、致癌物损害(7.80%)、酸化/富营养化(5.18%)、气候变化(1.90%);3)环境单一评分构成中仔猪生产阶段比例占17.91%,断奶后育肥阶段比例占82.09%,而且仔猪生产和育肥阶段的饲料消耗对土地占用、致癌物损害影响类型贡献较大,日常生产管理和粪污处理对吸入无机物对呼吸系统损害、酸化/富营养化、气候变化影响类型贡献较大;4)损害结果表明对人体健康影响最大环节是日常生产管理,对生态质量、资源消耗影响最大环节是饲料消耗。由此表明研究结果对生猪生产过程中减少资源消耗,采取降低环境影响的方法和措施,推动生猪养殖可持续发展有指导意义。     

车道线偏离系统和换道辅助系统的发展研究

近年来,随着计算机技术和人工智能技术的迅速发展,越来越多的辅助设备被用于交通工具上,有的甚至完全取代了人为操作,如无人驾驶。众多的辅助设备中,车道线偏离系统(LDW)和换道辅助系统(LCA)是两个被各大汽车厂商和国内外高校研究人员追捧的热门驾驶辅助设备。     

农业生产系统氮磷环境影响分析——以安徽省为例

为探讨农业生产过程中氮、磷营养物质流动造成的环境影响,采用生命周期评价方法以农业生产系统中种植和养殖过程中的氮、磷物质流动为研究对象,比较和分析了安徽省2014年农业生产系统氮、磷在不同作物和畜禽生产中造成的能源消耗、全球变暖、酸化和富营养化等环境影响。结果表明:生产1 t水稻、小麦、玉米、大豆和油菜的综合环境影响指数分别为0.35、0.34、0.50、0.63和0.40,生产单位数量猪、牛、羊和家禽的综合环境影响指数分别为0.29、1.21、0.14和0.01。由此,水稻、小麦、羊和家禽的综合环境影响指数较小;从各类农产品总量造成的环境影响来看,水稻、小麦、猪和家禽对整个系统的能源消耗、全球变暖、酸化和富营养化的贡献比较突出,4种农产品之和占各种影响类型的78.45%、70.97%、81.21%和79.79%;再对比种植和养殖两个子系统,种植和养殖分别对能耗和富营养化影响突出,分别占78.53%和72.83%,而二者对全球变暖和酸化的影响大致相同。研究提出改善饮食结构、优化施肥和资源化畜禽粪便等是减轻农业生产氮、磷环境影响的有效途径。