IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i23p10530-d1533836.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Effects of Different Management and Processing Methods on the Carbon Footprint of Chinese Hickory

Author

Listed:
  • Ruizhi Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Haitao Shi

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Wenzhe Dai

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Yangen Chen

    (Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Lin’an District, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Sha Huang

    (Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Lin’an District, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Guomo Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Yufeng Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

  • Yongjun Shi

    (State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
    School of Environmental and Resources Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China)

Abstract

Amidst the global shift towards a low-carbon development trajectory, the hickory industry in Lin’an District is progressively embracing green, low-carbon, and sustainable practices. This study, leveraging the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, meticulously scrutinizes the carbon footprint of the hickory industry by segmenting its life cycle into two distinct subsystems: the plantation and the factory. Through comprehensive, year-long monitoring of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hickory plantations, our findings underscore that while total GHG emissions from eco-complex management (ECM) surpassed those of intensive management (IM) by 10.7% ( p < 0.001), ECM significantly mitigated the carbon footprint per kilogram of hickory produced, achieving a reduction of 1.0495 kgCO 2 eq. This advantage is primarily attributable to ECM’s diminished reliance on chemical fertilizers. Within the factory subsystem, when processing 1 kg of hickory, the digital factory incurred a carbon footprint of 2.5923 kgCO 2 eq kg −1 , whereas family workshops exhibited a lower footprint of 1.9544 kgCO 2 eq kg −1 . Notably, the processing and packaging stages collectively accounted for over 90% of the factory subsystem’s carbon emissions, with natural gas being the primary contributor during processing. To estimate the carbon emission reduction potential within the hickory industry, this research draws parallels with emission reduction strategies employed by other industries and outlines tailored strategies to propel its low-carbon development. By advocating for the widespread adoption of ECM and enhancing the energy efficiency of processing enterprises, the hickory industry can effectively diminish its carbon footprint and steer towards a green, low-carbon, and high-quality development paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruizhi Xu & Haitao Shi & Wenzhe Dai & Yangen Chen & Sha Huang & Guomo Zhou & Yufeng Zhou & Yongjun Shi, 2024. "The Effects of Different Management and Processing Methods on the Carbon Footprint of Chinese Hickory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10530-:d:1533836
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10530/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10530/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rose A Graves & Ryan D Haugo & Andrés Holz & Max Nielsen-Pincus & Aaron Jones & Bryce Kellogg & Cathy Macdonald & Kenneth Popper & Michael Schindel, 2020. "Potential greenhouse gas reductions from Natural Climate Solutions in Oregon, USA," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-30, April.
    2. Chen, Shaoqing & Long, Huihui & Chen, Bin & Feng, Kuishuang & Hubacek, Klaus, 2020. "Urban carbon footprints across scale: Important considerations for choosing system boundaries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    3. Thomas Fellmann & Peter Witzke & Franz Weiss & Benjamin Van Doorslaer & Dusan Drabik & Ingo Huck & Guna Salputra & Torbjörn Jansson & Adrian Leip, 2018. "Major challenges of integrating agriculture into climate change mitigation policy frameworks," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 451-468, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Thomas Buchholz & John Gunn & Bruce Springsteen & Gregg Marland & Max Moritz & David Saah, 2022. "Probability-based accounting for carbon in forests to consider wildfire and other stochastic events: synchronizing science, policy, and carbon offsets," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Faruque As Sunny & Linlin Fu & Md Sadique Rahman & Zuhui Huang, 2022. "Determinants and Impact of Solar Irrigation Facility (SIF) Adoption: A Case Study in Northern Bangladesh," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Amanda Silva‐Parra & Juan Manuel Trujillo‐González & Eric C. Brevik, 2021. "Greenhouse gas balance and mitigation potential of agricultural systems in Colombia: A systematic analysis," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(3), pages 554-572, June.
    4. Sema Üstgörül & Bülent Akkaya & Maria Palazzo & Alessandra Micozzi, 2024. "Development and Validation of Carbon Footprint Awareness Scale for Boosting Sustainable Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Marco Springmann & Rita Dingenen & Toon Vandyck & Catharina Latka & Peter Witzke & Adrian Leip, 2023. "The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Kearney, M. & O'Riordan, E.G. & Byrne, N. & Breen, J. & Crosson, P., 2023. "Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in pasture-based dairy-beef production systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    7. Thomas Wiedmann & Guangwu Chen & Anne Owen & Manfred Lenzen & Michael Doust & John Barrett & Kristian Steele, 2021. "Three‐scope carbon emission inventories of global cities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(3), pages 735-750, June.
    8. Jerome Dumortier & Amani Elobeid, 2020. "Effects of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act on U.S. and Global Agricultural Markets," Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) Publications 20-wp598, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University.
    9. Dumortier, Jerome & Elobeid, Amani, 2021. "Effects of a carbon tax in the United States on agricultural markets and carbon emissions from land-use change," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Rahman, Md Momtazur & Khan, Imran & Field, David Luke & Techato, Kuaanan & Alameh, Kamal, 2022. "Powering agriculture: Present status, future potential, and challenges of renewable energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 731-749.
    11. Martin Henseler & Ruth Delzeit & Marcel Adenäuer & Sarah Baum & Peter Kreins, 2020. "Nitrogen Tax and Set-Aside as Greenhouse Gas Abatement Policies Under Global Change Scenarios: A Case Study for Germany," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(2), pages 299-329, July.
    12. Himics, Mihaly & Fellmann, Thomas & Barreiro-Hurlé, Jesús & Witzke, Heinz-Peter & Pérez Domínguez, Ignacio & Jansson, Torbjörn & Weiss, Franz, 2018. "Does the current trade liberalization agenda contribute to greenhouse gas emission mitigation in agriculture?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 120-129.
    13. Vidya Anderson & Matej Zgela & William A. Gough, 2023. "Building Urban Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions: A Multi-Scale Case Study of the Atmospheric Cleansing Potential of Green Infrastructure in Southern Ontario, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Maja Farstad & Heidi Vinge & Egil Petter Stræte, 2021. "Locked-in or ready for climate change mitigation? Agri-food networks as structures for dairy-beef farming," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 29-41, February.
    15. Hans van Meijl & Petr Havlik & Hermann Lotze-Campen & Elke Stehfest & Peter Witzke & Ignacio Perez Dominguez & Benjamin Bodirsky & Michiel van Dijk & Jonathan Doelman & Thomas Fellmann & Florian Humpe, 2017. "Challenges of Global Agriculture in a Climate Change Context by 2050 (AgCLIM50)," JRC Research Reports JRC106835, Joint Research Centre.
    16. Torbjörn Jansson & Ida Nordin & Fredrik Wilhelmsson & Peter Witzke & Gordana Manevska‐Tasevska & Franz Weiss & Alexander Gocht, 2021. "Coupled Agricultural Subsidies in the EU Undermine Climate Efforts," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(4), pages 1503-1519, December.
    17. Abulibdeh, A. & Jawarneh, R.N. & Al-Awadhi, T. & Abdullah, M.M. & Abulibdeh, R. & El Kenawy, A.M., 2024. "Assessment of carbon footprint in Qatar's electricity sector: A comparative analysis across various building typologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    18. Kılkış, Şiir, 2022. "Urban emissions and land use efficiency scenarios towards effective climate mitigation in urban systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    19. Adam Wąs & Vitaliy Krupin & Paweł Kobus & Jan Witajewski-Baltvilks & Robert Jeszke & Krystian Szczepański, 2021. "Towards Climate Neutrality in Poland by 2050: Assessment of Policy Implications in the Farm Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
    20. Gordon N. Merrick, 2021. "A Lens for Analysis of Payment for Ecosystem Services Systems: Transitioning the Working Lands Economic Sector from Extractive Industry to Regenerative System," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10530-:d:1533836. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.