Reducing Environmental Impacts through Redesigning Cropping Pattern Using LCA and MOP (Case study: East Lorestan Province)

Abstract
One of the major problems at present time is the pollution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due to the introduction of pollutants of human origin. Agricultural management to maximize resources utilization and reduce environmental impacts, in addition to protecting resources, will increase the incomes of local farmers.
 
The present research, using nonlinear multi-objective programming (MOP) with aimed to maximize net profit and minimize environmental impacts, including the aquatic ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, terrestrial acid/nutrition, land occupation, aquatic acidification and aquatic eutrophication through optimum cropping pattern for the east of Lorestan Province.
 
In the proposed MOP cropping pattern, urea under cultivation of sugar beet increased by 22% and bean 2% compared to the current pattern and urea under cultivation of canola reduced by 50%, potato 34%, chickpea 21%, barley 4% and lentil 3% compared to the current pattern. The implementation of this model in the region reduced the emissions of heavy metals and pesticides into the aquatic ecosystem (19669315 ton) and terrestrial ecosystem (57807822 ton), SO2 to the air (3627 ton) and PO4 to the soil (1003 kg) compared to the existing situation.
 
According to the results of this study, the conservation of ecosystems is necessary to optimize the cropping pattern. Using the proposed model, in addition to selecting the appropriate model and optimizing the use of water and land resources, we can take steps to increase profits and reduce environmental impacts on the ecosystem.