Table 7a and breport the environmental impacts for selected
impact categories, per ha occupied for cultivation and per kg of
unmilled rice produced, respectively. Overall, LCIA confirms the
results related to direct field emissions and resource-related results
of the techno-economic analysis. On a land use basis (Table 7a),
GWP100 is markedly lower in rain-fed systems compared to irrigated
systems, Iw showing the highest impact. Differences in CH4
emissions were previously discussed (straw incorporation and
water management during pre-cultivation times) and explain this
result. In all other impact categories, Rw systems systematically
show lower impacts per ha than Iw and Id systems, with the latter
having the highest impacts. However, AP, ODP and total water use
are of the same magnitude across systems; yet, water use remains
appreciably lower in Rw systems.