J Tonatto, A Acevedo and PL Garolera De Nucci
Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres, William Cross 3150, Las Talitas – Tucumán, Argentina; jtonatto@eeaoc.org.ar The main activities producing greenhouse gases (GHGs) are energy generation, agriculture, industry, transportation, and construction. In Argentina, agricultural sector actions are essential due to their impact on the environment and the drawbacks they create within the sector itself. There is a need to emphasize climate change at the regional level by assessing risks, adaptation/mitigation measures, and local decision-making. The objective of this study was to estimate the carbon footprint in sugarcane production using a drip irrigation system under the agroecological conditions of Graneros (Tucumán – Argentina). The system studied was a second-ratoon crop during the 2023/2024 season. Cultural practices were considered along with their corresponding diesel fuel consumption, the use of agrochemicals (herbicides and UAN nitrogen fertilizer), the supplemental water used in the drip irrigation system and its electricity consumption, and green mechanized harvest to obtain a defined amount of feedstock. Cane yield (t cane/ha) was evaluated in three defined productivity environments (high, medium, and low productivity). Transportation of sugarcane to the mill and the production of machinery and infrastructure were not included. GHG emissions were estimated using the Cool Farm Tool (version 2.1). The estimated carbon footprint was 34.6 kg CO2e/t cane for the high productivity environment, 35.6 kg CO2e/t cane for the medium productivity environment, and 41.7 kg CO2e/t cane for the low productivity environment. When comparing the results with local and international data, it is confirmed that the initial intensification of agricultural management increases GHG emissions. However, the use of irrigation allows for better resource utilization, such as soil, extends the lifespan of crop cycles, and provides other benefits. However, these studies should be conducted at regional scales, as local characteristics affect crop responses and GHG emission dynamics.