Life cycle assessment of oil palm seedling production (Part 1).

Abstract

The oil palm nursery is the first link in the palm oil supply chain where oil palm seedlings are produced for the cultivation of palms in plantations. One seedling is the defined functional unit. This article outlines the environmental impacts, identified using life cycle assessment (LCA), associated with the production of a single seedling, and the proposed mitigation measures. LCA is a cradle-to-gate study which starts at the pre-nursery stage, proceeding to the main nursery before subsequent transplantation of the seedlings in the plantation. An audit on electricity, diesel, fertilizers, pesticides, polybags and water consumption was carried out using data obtained from a questionnaire on the life cycle inventory of seedling production. The information obtained was then verified by follow-up site visits. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was carried out for a single seedling produced, using the SimaPro software version 7.1 and the Eco indicator 99 methodology. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipes were also included in the study. Ecotoxicity was found to be the major impact category followed by fossil fuel and respiratory inorganics. * Malaysian Palm Oil Board, P. O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: [e-mail] final disposal (Birkved and Hauschild, 2006; Yusof and Hansen, 2007; Avraamides and Fatta, 2008). The oil palm nursery is the starting link in the palm oil supply chain. In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the average production of germinated oil palm seeds in Malaysia was 66.7, 65.2, 88.2 and 86.4 million, respectively (http://econ.mpob.gov.my). The productivity of an oil palm plantation depends on many factors, and the most important starting point is the quality of the oil palm seedlings derived from cross pollination of selected parent palms for use in planting. The production of high quality oil palm seedlings is very much dependent on good nursery management and practices. A nursery stage is required because palms require constant close attention during the first 10 to 12 months of their growth and development. A nursery will enable closer supervision over a smaller area, and will facilitate pest control and the culling of undesirable oil palm seedlings. There are two types of nursery practice – singlestage and double-stage. The technique of raising intRoDUCtion The life cycle inventory (LCI) is the most important resource-intensive phase when conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a process tool to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used as well as waste released into the environment. LCA subsequently evaluates opportunities to effect environmental improvements. A full LCA includes the entire life cycle of a product, process or activity; encompassing extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, use, reuse, maintenance, recycling and keywords: nursery, seedling, life cycle inventory, environmental input, life cycle impact assessment. date received: 4 October 2010; sent for revision: 6 October 2010; received in final form: 18 October 2010; accepted: 20 October 2010.