Caso práctico de evaluación ambiental en agricultura: producción de alfalfa

Spain occupies the 6th position in milk production in the European Union. [1]. Within Spain, dairy cows from Galicia play a fundamental role with a contribution of 30.92% [2]. According to a study of milk production in this region [3], the feeding of the cows (corn, silage, feed and alfalfa) is one of the main causes of the impact. In this sense, a detailed environmental analysis of the cultivation, transport and dehydration of alfalfa has been initiated through the use of the environmental management tool of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). With respect to cultivation, the data have been obtained from Castilla-León, due to its proximity to Galicia and the Ebro valley (Navarra, Aragón and Catalonia), the region with the highest production. 1 ha has been analyzed during an average crop cycle (4.5 years) [4]. Bibliographic sources and interviews with farmers have been used to obtain the necessary inventory data. Different parameters have been taken into account: use of machinery; consumption of water, seeds, fertilizers (organic and inorganic), electricity and herbicides; emissions to air and soil. The data of the dehydrator have been obtained from a plant located near Chantada (Galicia). With respect to transport, an average value of distance between Castilla-León and Galicia has been considered, considering that dehydrated alfalfa is transported in 40-ton trucks. The inventory is in a final phase of development and once completed, the impact will be analyzed using the CML methodology developed by Leiden University.