Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from ornamental plant production: A nursery level approach

The focus of the work is to define a methodology to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the nursery industry, comparing two different plant production systems (field- and container-grown plants) and assessing different scenarios for the reduction of the emissions. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, with the "from cradle to gate" approach, was used. The analysis revealed that the total emission of CO(2)eq is higher in container cultivations than in field cultivations, with emissions ranging between 26.1 and 34.7 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) for the former, and between 2.3 and 6.6 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) for the latter; greenhouse horticultural crops emit 2.2-10.3 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) of CO(2)eg and arable crop emissions were measured as 6.2 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) of CO(2)eq. Different scenarios for the reduction of GHG emission were tested and a 15.5% reduction of GHG emission was achieved. Two of the scenarios applied - 50% recycled water usage (scenario 1) and 10% of green waste recovery for substrates (scenario 3) - are already in use in nursery farms.