Life cycle inventory data of agricultural tractors.

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of agricultural systems are performed using inventory data from several databases. The inventory data used for agricultural machinery and especially agricultural tractors in these databases are based on old data (from 2002 and not updated since) using trucks ("lorry") as a proxy for the manufacture of tractors. In consequences, they do not reflect the current technology used by farmers and do not allow comparison with new technologies in used in farms such as agricultural robots. The dataset proposed in this paper presents two updated Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of an agricultural tractor. Data were collected based on the technical system of a tractor manufacturer, scientific and technical literature as well as expert opinion. Data on weight, composition, lifetime and maintenance hours of each tractor component as well as electronic parts, converter catalyst and lead battery are produced. The inventory is calculated based on the raw materials needed for the tractor manufacturing and maintenance over its lifetime as well as the energy and infrastructure needed for manufacturing. Calculations were made based on a tractor of 7300 kg with the following characteristics: 155 CV, 6 cylinders, four-wheel drive. The tractor modelled is representative of tractors from the same power category (i.e. between 100 and 199 CV and 70% of the annual sales in France). Two LCI are produced: a LCI for a 7200 h lifetime tractor, representative of an accounting depreciation, and a LCI for a 12000 h lifetime tractor, representative of the whole service life of the tractor (first use to final disposal). The functional unit is 1 kg of tractor (kg) or 1 piece (p) of tractor during its lifetime.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of intra-row and inter-row weeding practices using autonomous robot systems in French vineyards.

Viticulture, as well as other crops, is facing obligation to reduce the use of herbicides and to develop alternatives solutions to chemical weed control. These alternatives can be achieved by mechanical weeding either using tractors or weeding robots. This paper provides a quantitative environmental impact assessment using Life Cycle Assessment of intra-row and inter-row weeding practices using autonomous robot systems in three French vineyards. Twenty-seven scenarios were built to assess chemical, mechanical or a combination of the two for intra-row weeding management combined with mechanical weeding or mowing as inter-row management. Results shows that scenarios using weeding robots for the intra-row management have greater impacts than conventional ones on mineral resources, human toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity and marine eutrophication due to the manufacture, the lifetime (when assumed short) and the functionality of robots. However, these same scenarios have fewer impacts than conventional ones on climate change, fossil resources, ozone depletion, acidification and particle formation, especially when robots are used on plots closed to the winery. This study had shed some light on the relative impacts of a robotic machine intended to replace tractors and vine straddles tractors in certain tillage operations. In particular, it may allow the implementation of an eco-design approach for the use of robots, making it possible to find the operating point that could minimize the overall impact of robotic solutions.

Life cycle inventory data on French organic waste treatments yielding organic amendments and fertilisers.

To inform the modelling of organic waste treatments yielding organic amendments and fertilisers in France, published as "Screening LCA of French organic amendments and fertilisers" [1], we compiled data pertaining to the chemical characteristics of both raw and treated organic residues, as well as inventory data on the most common organic waste treatments. The majority of these life cycle inventory data was obtained from reports and other literature, but primary data was also compiled, notably for commercial organic fertiliser production. The data presented here can be used by future life cycle assessment studies on organic waste treatments, as well as to inform agricultural modelling.

Environmental performances of production and land application of sludge-based phosphate fertilizers-a life cycle assessment case study.

Phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable resource extracted from phosphate rock to produce agricultural fertilizers. Since P is essential for life, it is important to preserve this resource and explore alternative sources of P to reduce its criticality. This study aimed to assess whether fertilizing with sludge-based phosphate fertilizers (SBPF) can be a suitable alternative to doing so with fertilizers produced from phosphate rock. Environmental impacts of production and land application of SBPF from four recovery processes were compared to those of two reference scenarios: triple super phosphate (TSP) and sewage sludge. To avoid bias when comparing scenarios, part of the environmental burden of wastewater treatment is allocated to sludge production. The CML-IA method was used to perform life cycle impact assessment. Results highlighted that production and land application of SBPF had higher environmental impacts than those of TSP due to the large amounts of energy and reactants needed to recover P, especially when sludge had a low P concentration. Certain environmental impacts of production and land application of sewage sludge were similar to those of SBPF. Sensitivity analysis conducted for cropping systems highlighted variability in potential application rates of sewage sludge or SBPF. Finally, because they contain lower contents of heavy metals than sewage sludge or TSP, SBPF are of great interest, but they require more mineral fertilizers to supplement their fertilization than sewage sludge. Thus, SBPF have advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered, since they may influence their use within fertilization practices.

Survey data of sewage sludge treatment and disposal routes originated from activated sludge water treatment in France.

This paper presents data collected from a survey on sewage sludge treatment and disposal routes originated from activated sludge water treatment in France. The data of 3,679 wastewater treatment plants - representing 52% of WWTP using activated sludge and 69% of sludge disposed by these WWTP - were collected from several French organisms such as SATESE (technical support for wastewater treatment plants), water supply agencies, internal service of agricultural Chambers and public administrations in 71 French departments. The survey allows a detailed description of the processes used for sewage sludge treatment (i.e. thickening, dewatering, stabilization, drying) as well as the type of disposal routes (i.e. land application, incineration, landfill.) and the related amount of sewage sludge disposed in dry matter tons. The data are provided in a raw and analyzed form within the Excel file provided with this article.

Environmental impacts of phosphorus recovery from a "product" Life Cycle Assessment perspective: Allocating burdens of wastewater treatment in the production of sludge-based phosphate fertilizers.

Since phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable element essential for life, it is extremely important to explore any potential supply of P, including that recovered from human excreta and urban wastewater. This study aimed to assess, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), whether recovering dissipated P by producing sludge-based phosphate fertilizer can be a suitable method to reduce P depletion. Environmental impacts of four scenarios of production of sludge-based phosphate fertilizers were compared to those of production of triple super phosphate, a mineral phosphate fertilizer used as a reference scenario. The novelty of this study was to estimate environmental impacts of sludge-based phosphate fertilizer production using a "product" LCA perspective instead of a "waste" LCA perspective. Consequently, upstream production of sludge was considered by allocating part of the environmental burdens of wastewater treatment to sludge production. Life Cycle Impact Assessment was performed using the CML-IA characterization method. Results indicated that sludge-based phosphate fertilizers appeared less environmentally friendly than mineral phosphate fertilizers, due to the contribution of the upstream burden of sludge production and P recovery. Finally, although P recovery helps preserve the mineral P resource, the overall assessment remains unfavorable for sludge-based products due to the low yields of P recovery, low P concentration of the sludge and the large amounts of energy and reactants needed to recover the P.