Life cycle assessment of conventional and organic apple production systems in China

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to characterize the environmental performance and potential improvement opportunities related to conventional and organic apple production systems in two main apple production areas (Shandong Province and Shaanxi Province) in China. Nine impact categories including Non-renewable energy depletion, Water depletion, Land occupation, Global warming potential, Acidification potential, Eutrophication potential, Human toxicity potential, Aquatic toxicity potential, and Soil toxicity potential were selected. The results showed that, despite a lower productivity, organic apple production system versus conventional system could help to reduce the environmental impacts for most of the examined impact categories. Regardless of conventional or organic apple production system, the environmental impacts in Shandong Province were lower than that in Shaanxi Province. A relevant share of the primary non-renewable energy depletion and global warming potential were caused by the agricultural materials input stage, meanwhile a significant share in acidification potential, aquatic eutrophication potential, human toxicity potential, aquatic eco-toxicity potential, and soil eco-toxicity potential were caused by the orchard management stage. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the farming step showed that the production and associated field-level emissions of fertilizers (i.e. synthetic and manure), and inputs to pest and disease management were major contributors to environmental impacts on conventional apple production system, whereas an important share in the overall environmental impacts was due to the production and usage of organic manure in organic apple production systems. In addition, more gasoline consumption due to long-distance transport of fruits and higher water depletion and land occupation in organic production systems were worth considering.