Life cycle assessment (LCA) of potato production

Abstract

The paper analyses the detailed structure of the environmental footprint of technologies used for potato production on plantations covering areas of various sizes. The research was conducted for potato cultivation in Lesser Poland. In order to determine the environmental impact with the LCA method, the SimaPro application was used, ver. 8.1.0.60. The "cradle-to-gate" approach was adopted, taking into account the type of technological practices, as well as machines, duration of their operation, number of seed potatoes, fertilisers, pesticides, used fuel and water. The final results were referred to the area of cultivation (1 ha). It was, for instance, found that one of the greatest impact factors of potato cultivation affecting the natural environment is the use of seed potatoes and relatively high consumption of diesel.