Estimación de impactos ambientales basados en el análisis de ciclo de vida de la fase agrícola de la cadena agroalimentaria convencional y agroecológica de la lechuga (Lactuca Sativa) en el cantón Cayambe.

Abstract

The results obtained through the present investigation constitute the estimations of the environmental indicators, Carbon Footprint and Water Footprint in the agroecological and conventional crops, the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) applied allowed to know the most friendly type of crop with the ambient. The estimation of the footprints was based on the activities developed in the agricultural phase of the cultivation of Lactuca sativa, through the inventory of the LCA, which allowed the calculation of the emissions emitted into the atmosphere, through the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) of the year 2006, while the consumption of water resources was based on the manual of the Water Footprint (WFP) of FAO with the use of CROPWAT 8.0 and Excel spreadsheets for both indicators. The quality of the soil and water resources was determined by the physical-chemical analysis carried out, as well as the analysis of the product determined its status. The Carbon Footprint and Water Footprint estimates correspond to the following values of 0.10 kg CO2eq/kg product and 43 m3 / ton in the production of Lactuca sativa in agroecological respectively for each footprint, similarly the results for the conventional system were obtained 0.44 kg/kg product CO2eq and 83 m3 / ton, which means that conventional practices have a greater impact on the environment. Giving out the kg of CO2eq emitted into the atmosphere, as well as cubic meters consumed to produce lettuce.