Comparing the Environmental Effects of Rainfed and Irrigated Barley Production Systems Using Life Cycle Assessment

This is a research article reporting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of barley production in Iran, comparing irrigated and rainfed farming systems in terms of nitrogen use. The study covers the period 1378 to 1392 and uses average grain yield and input data per hectare as its basis. The LCA follows four standard steps and examines impact categories including acidification, eutrophication in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, and global warming, with one tonne of grain as the functional unit. Results indicated that higher nitrogen consumption was associated with greater environmental impacts.