Nitrogen In Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Of Agricultural Crop Production Systems: Comparative Analysis Of Regionalization Approaches

Assessing reactive nitrogen (N-r) flows resulting from agricultural crop production systems (ACPS) with LCA requires regionalization. However, methodological approaches for regionalized LCA of ACPS may no necessarily re flea a comprehensive picture of N-r compounds and their complex interaction with the environment. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the consideration of N-r in methodological approaches for regionalized LCA applied to ACPS. We conducted a review comprehending scientific literature on regionalization approaches applied to ACPS and compared these with general requirements of LCA and the scientific background of the N-cycle following the LCA framework. Special Locus was placed on the analysis of process-based models (PBM) and life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. We derived key factors relevant for a regional assessment of N flows in LCA and compared these to 23 regionalization approaches applied to ACPS. Main obstacles identified to conduct a regionalized LCA for ACPS involved the consideration of different regional scales and thus a missing common regionalization approach suitable for ACPS. Although, N related key-factors were mainly considered by the analyzed approaches in the different LCA phases, critical points involved the consideration of N field emissions and N impact assessment. Based on these findings, practical recommendations were given. Our comprehensive review provides relevant requirements for an improved regional N assessment in regionalized LCA of ACPS and aims to present a realistic picture when comparing different alternatives considering N specific regional impacts. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.