On the relevance of site specificity and temporal variability in agricultural LCA: a case study on mandarin in North Uruguay

Abstract Purpose Mandarin is a relevant citrus crop in Uruguay both terms of yield and area. This study aimed at assessing the environmental impacts mandarin cultivation country to identify hotspots. Temporal variability assessed by considering six harvest seasons site specificity developing regionalized inventory using Tier 3 estimate nitrogen on-field emissions. Also, effect regionalizing specific impact categories analyzed. Methods A cradle-to-farm gate assessment was carried out based on mass area functional units. Primary data gathered from representative orchard region for 2016 2022. Nitrogen emissions were modeled LEACHN, model that considers site-specific climatic soil parameters as well water fertilizer applications daily scale. In addition, other modeling approaches tested following Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Footprint (PEF), World Food LCA Database guidelines (WFLDB), updated IPCC EMEP/EEA guidelines. The EN 15804 + A2 standard followed assess impacts, except concerning acidification, where IMPACT 2002 v2.1 used. analyze variations results when emissions, Results main hotspots detected are machinery operations, pesticides, production. Irrigation hotspot blue scarcity. As models significant differences marine eutrophication between LEACHN WFLDB, regardless unit, terrestrial eutrophication, aquatic acidification per ha PEF. Significant reductions observed caused Conclusions development inventories methods with spatial resolution encouraged, although more research needed draw general conclusions about convenience mechanistic Uruguayan citriculture. high variation coefficients obtained reaffirm importance temporal variability. Moreover, relevance different units highlighted since influencing variables throughout depending unit