Work

Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon balance of bread winter wheat cultivars: Varietal differentiation and straw management effects in the Ukraine

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study presents a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon balance for 36 bread winter wheat cultivars under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine during 2020-2024.The assessment followed ISO 14040/14044 standards and IPCC (2006, 2019) guidelines with cradleto-farm gate system boundaries.Total GHG emissions amounted to 1,938.2 kg CO 2 -eq/ha, with mineral fertilizer production (41.8%) and field N 2 O emissions (34.2%) as dominant sources.The carbon footprint varied from 236 to 335 kg CO 2 -eq/t depending on cultivar yield, representing a 42% difference attributable solely to cultivar selection under identical technology.Five highly carbon-efficient cultivars (<250 kg CO 2 -eq/t) were identified: Lehenda Bilotserkivska (236), Okhtyrchanka (238), Pryvitna (244), Optyma Odeska (244), and MIP Valensiia (248).The gross carbon balance was positive for all cultivars (+19.3 to +28.2 t CO 2 -eq/ha).The sequestration break-even point ranged from 77% to >100% straw retention depending on yield.Cultivar selection combined with straw management can modify the net carbon balance by up to 14,206 kg CO 2 -eq/ha.To achieve carbon neutrality, high-yielding cultivars should be combined with ≥75% straw retention.

Source: Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology

DOI: 10.12912/27197050/216722