Agro Fossil Free - CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THE MAIN CROPS CULTIVATED IN POLAND

Descripción general

Estimated greenhouse gas emissions from the cultivation of the main crops per 1 ha of cultivation ranged from 2.1 to 5.1t CO2 eq·ha–1. They can be arranged in ascending order as follows: Cereals < Potato < Grain maize < Sugar beet < Winter oilseed rape < Silage maize. The amount of emissions is a measure of the cultivation intensity and depends mainly on the amount of nitrogen introduced into the soil. The determined values of the carbon footprint (in relation to 1 kg of product) ranged from 0.08 kg CO2eq·kg–1 in the cultivation of sugar beet to 1.31 kg CO2eq·kg–1 in the cultivation of rapeseed; assuming for cereals an average of 0.54 kg CO2eq·kg–1. Reducing the carbon footprint of cultivation is possible using technical and biological progress; can be achieved by reducing emissions or increasing yield. The largest contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in cultivation is made by: nitrous oxide emissions from soil (52%), production of mineral fertilizers (24%), as well as fuel production and the use of agricultural machinery (19%). Other sources, such as CO2 emissions from soils resulting from the use of urea and calcium fertilizers and emissions related to the production of plant protection products and seeds, together account for approx. 5%. Due to the structure of greenhouse gas emissions, the greatest potential for reducing the carbon footprint of crops is associated with rational nitrogen fertilization.