Assessment of energy use efficiency and life cycle environmental impact of almond and walnut production: A case study in Shahrekord city, Iran

In order to improve almond and walnut production, a study was conducted in Shahrekord city, Iran, focusing on the rural agricultural lands. Shahrekord city exhibits a diverse climate, which facilitates the cultivation of various agricultural and horticultural products across different areas. The study aimed to enhance the production of almond and walnut crops in this region. Selecting similar gardeners with comparable characteristics and production histories ensured a reliable research sample. One of the main production challenges encountered was the labor-intensive manual harvesting process prevalent in the region. To gather data for the study, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were employed. Additionally, energy consumption was assessed by calculating the inputs utilized. The study determined that the total energy consumption for almonds and walnuts amounted to 29,430.56 MJ ha-1 and 15,309.28 MJ ha-1, respectively. According to the LCA results, the resource category had the highest environmental impact, whereas human health had the lowest. Previous research on almond and walnut production indicated that almond production had higher greenhouse gas emissions than walnut production. Additionally, the resources category had a greater impact on almond production than on walnut production in terms of pollutants. These findings highlight the importance of carefully evaluating the environmental impact of different agricultural practices and identifying ways to reduce their impact to promote sustainable agriculture.