fertilizer and pesticide production but also includes field emissions (e.g. N 2 O),
electricity for pumps and all transports (fertilizer to the field). The provision of
infrastructure is not included. The impact of provision of other capital goods such
as buildings is also expected to be low, as for example storage takes place at
producer groups, so that the scaling effect will result in very low impacts per kg
final product.
2.7 Software and Database
The LCA model was created using the GaBi 6.4 Software system for life cycle
engineering, developed by thinkstep AG. The associated Gabi database provided
the background LCI data in order to characterise several of the raw materials and
processes involved in the background system.
Table 1 Questionnaires to collect inventory data of organic, BCI cotton and conventional cotton
production stages
Note: Average data from 10 farms
IN
IN
IN
(8%
H 2 O)
(8%
H 2 O)
(8% H 2 O)
Organic
BCI
Conventional
Parameter
Unit
Value
Value
Value
Yield
kg fresh weight (fw)/ha
1545.70
2097.10
2000.00
Seeds
kg/(ha*year)
2.180
2.175
1.530
Water content
%
8
8
8
Carbon content
kg/kg fw
0.425
0.425
0.425
Nitrogen content
kg/kg fw
0.028
0.028
0.028
Urea
kg/(ha*year)
–
157.50
124.00
DAP
kg/(ha*year)
–
83.50
98.80
NPK (15:15:15)
kg/(ha*year)
–
39.50
39.50
AN
kg/(ha*year)
–
–
122.00
FYM or compost
kg/(ha*year)
5000
2000
5000
Diesel
(Cultivation + harvest)
l/(ha*year)
25
44
85
Pesticides
kg active ingredient/
(ha*year)
–
1.2
2.4
Cultivated area
ha
1.92
3.28
3
Irrigation water used
m
3
/ha
605
692
1080
Life Cycle Assessment of Organic, BCI and Conventional …
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