Determining the environmental impacts of canola production by life cycle assessment, case study: Ardabil Province

One of the limitations regard to input use in agriculture is various emissions that have negative effects on natural environment. In this research, environmental impacts in canola production and transportation to oil extracting factory gate in Ardabil Providence were studied based on life cycle assessment considering four scenarios including central and north regions and Moghan Agro-Industrial & Livestock Co. with surface and sprinkler irrigation methods. The required information in this study was gathered using questionnaires and interviews with farmers and staffs of the related organizations in Ardabil Province. The results of life cycle assessment showed that nitrogen fertilizer, fuel and electricity inputs had the highest share of environmental indicators. Also, indicator normalization showed that free water ecotoxicity, eutrophication, acidification and global warming had more environmental impacts than other indicators.