LCA of different devices for pollutants emission reduction on agricultural tractors

Agricultural mechanisation plays an important role on the environmental sustainability of crops cultivation. Commonly, not much attention is paid to the different tractors to be used for carrying out field operations. Although only one average tractor is available in the Ecoinvent database, several models can be identified, characterised by differences in: (i) engine power, (ii) dimensions and mass, (iii) fuel consumption and, (iv) technologies for the reduction of exhaust gases emissions. This study shows how just one difference in the selected tractor, i.e. the solution for reducing exhaust gases from the combustion in the engine, brings to different environmental outcomes quantified by means of the LCA approach. In particular, a comparison is made among three tractors characterised by different solutions for emissions reduction: tractor A, equipped with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), tractor B, equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and tractor C, with no-emission-control device.