Cotton cultivation includes four main tasks: field preparation, planting, field
operations, and harvesting. Under the collective term field operations: irrigation,
weed and pest control, and fertilization are included. These tasks consume energy
(electricity and fuel), require inputs (seeds, fertilizers, water etc.) and produce
wastes and emissions—all part of the present system.
2.3 Functional Unit
The functional unit for this study was 1 ton of seed cotton at the farm gate, for all
the three systems, i.e. conventional cotton, BCI cotton and organic cotton
production.
2.4 Data Collection
Primary data for BCI, organic and conventional cotton cultivation was provided by
Arvind Limited for ten representative farming sites. Specifically adapted questionnaires were used to collect inventory data for agricultural systems. These
questionnaires were filled in by representatives of producer groups and the data
provided were subjected to quality check considering literature references and were
compared to other primary cultivation data sources in order to ensure reliable
results. The data from each cultivation site were modelled into ten different site
specific LCI models and weighted average of those sites were used to create an LCI
profile for BCI, Organic and conventional cotton production respectively. Table 1
shows the questionnaires that were used to collect primary inventory data for all
three farming practices.
2.5 Allocation
During cotton production, two valuable co-products are produced, cotton fibres and
cottonseed. Thus, the environmental burden is allocated to both the fibres and the
seed. It has been determined that mass-based allocation is the most suitable method
to use for this study.
2.6 Inclusion and Exclusion
Included in the study are all material and energy flows required for the cultivation
phase, as well as all associated wastes and emissions. The study is not limited to
70
P. Shah et al.
operations, and harvesting. Under the collective term field operations: irrigation,
weed and pest control, and fertilization are included. These tasks consume energy
(electricity and fuel), require inputs (seeds, fertilizers, water etc.) and produce
wastes and emissions—all part of the present system.
2.3 Functional Unit
The functional unit for this study was 1 ton of seed cotton at the farm gate, for all
the three systems, i.e. conventional cotton, BCI cotton and organic cotton
production.
2.4 Data Collection
Primary data for BCI, organic and conventional cotton cultivation was provided by
Arvind Limited for ten representative farming sites. Specifically adapted questionnaires were used to collect inventory data for agricultural systems. These
questionnaires were filled in by representatives of producer groups and the data
provided were subjected to quality check considering literature references and were
compared to other primary cultivation data sources in order to ensure reliable
results. The data from each cultivation site were modelled into ten different site
specific LCI models and weighted average of those sites were used to create an LCI
profile for BCI, Organic and conventional cotton production respectively. Table 1
shows the questionnaires that were used to collect primary inventory data for all
three farming practices.
2.5 Allocation
During cotton production, two valuable co-products are produced, cotton fibres and
cottonseed. Thus, the environmental burden is allocated to both the fibres and the
seed. It has been determined that mass-based allocation is the most suitable method
to use for this study.
2.6 Inclusion and Exclusion
Included in the study are all material and energy flows required for the cultivation
phase, as well as all associated wastes and emissions. The study is not limited to
70
P. Shah et al.