Environmental impacts assessment of maize, soybean, and wheat production in the Southwest of São Paulo state: alternative scenarios for the substitution of chemical fertilization

Mineral fertilizers are highly impactful in the agricultural sector, and animal manure can be an alternative to mitigate its impacts. The goal of this research was estimate potential environmental impacts on production soybean, maize, wheat at Lagoa do Sino Farm School from Federal University Sao Carlos, contemplating 2016/2017 cropping season testing replacement 100%, 50%, 30% chemical fertilization by composted cow manure. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology used. functional unit one ton each crop produced farm. Impacts were also assessed for hectare product investigated system boundary a cradle-to-farm gate. using CML 2000 world+ method abiotic depletion, global warming, acidification, eutrophication. Chemical main hotspot all crops produced. Soybean showed impact 1489 MJ, 125 kg CO2 eq., 0.6 SO2 0.4 PO4 eq.; maize 1497 197 1 0.8 5863 632 3.3 2.4 eq. substitution scenario most efficient observed since there is increase fuel consumption if distribution larger amounts needed. Enriching investing fossil will improve profile under intensive systems Southwest state Paulo, Brazil.