Environmental and economic benefits of wheat and chickpea crop rotation in the Mediterranean region of Apulia (Italy)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165124
• Publication Date: 2023-06-25T08:10:49Z
• Authors: Sara Lago-Olveira; Ricardo Rebolledo...; Pasquale Garofalo; Maria Teresa Moreira; Sara González-García
• Keywords: Crop Rotation; Gross margin; Monoculture; Cropping system

Wheat plays an essential role in safeguarding global food security. However, its intensive agricultural production, aimed at maximizing crop yields and associated economic benefits, jeopardizes many ecosystem services the stability of farmers. Rotations with leguminous are recognized as a promising strategy favor sustainable agriculture. not all rotations suitable for promoting sustainability their implications on soil quality should be carefully analyzed. This research aims to demonstrate environmental benefits introducing chickpea into wheat-based system under Mediterranean pedo-climatic conditions. For this purpose, rotation "wheat-chickpea" was evaluated compared conventional regime (wheat monoculture) by means life cycle assessment methodology. inventory data (e.g., agrochemical doses, machinery, energy consumption, production yield, among others) compiled each cropping system, thus converted impacts based two functional units: 1 ha per year one € gross margin. Eleven indicators were analyzed, including biodiversity loss. Results indicate that chickpea-wheat offers lower impacts, regardless unit considered. Global warming (18 %) freshwater ecotoxicity (20 categories largest reductions. Furthermore, remarkable increase (96 margin observed due low cost cultivation higher market price. Nevertheless, proper fertilizer management remains fully attain legumes.