Research on carbon footprint and its influencing factors of vegetable production in China

GUAN Xinran; XU Qiao; YIN Xin'an; WANG Xiaoqin; ZHANG Borui

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202605008

Volume 44 Issue 5

May 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(5): 83-91

GUAN Xinran, XU Qiao, YIN Xin'an, WANG Xiaoqin, ZHANG Borui. Research on carbon footprint and its influencing factors of vegetable production in China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 83-91. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605008

Citation:

GUAN Xinran, XU Qiao, YIN Xin'an, WANG Xiaoqin, ZHANG Borui. Research on carbon footprint and its influencing factors of vegetable production in China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 83-91. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605008

Citation:

PDF( 592 KB)

Research on carbon footprint and its influencing factors of vegetable production in China

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605008

1. State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
2. School of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A& F University, Yangling 712100, China

Received Date: 2026-01-09
Available Online: 2026-06-06

Abstract

Abstract

Vegetable production is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. Conducting carbon footprint accounting and heterogeneity analysis for vegetable production is crucial for achieving the Dual Carbon Goals in agriculture. Previous studies have mostly focused on local regions or single varieties， lacking systematic comparisons of different planting patterns at the national scale， and providing insufficient analysis of their spatial distribution patterns and contributions at each stage. This study was based on the life cycle assessment（LCA） framework and used provincial statistical data from 2018 to 2022 to construct a calculation model covering material inputs， field emissions， and energy consumption. It analyzed the compositional characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of the carbon footprints of different vegetables under open-field and facility farming models. The results show that： 1） The annual average carbon footprint per unit yield of typical vegetables in China ranges from 65.5 to 293.8 g CO₂-eq/kg； among these vegetables， open-field radishes have the lowest emission intensity， while open-field green beans have the highest， and significant inter-provincial heterogeneity exists， with the largest regional fluctuations observed for facility eggplants and open-field green beans. 2） The carbon footprint exhibits significant spatial clustering and model differences； fruit vegetables show higher emissions in open-field production in the central and southern regions， and in facility production in the northern regions， while leafy vegetables display a "higher in the south， lower in the north" pattern. 3） Fertilizer production and field N₂O emissions are the core sources of the carbon footprint （with a contribution rate as high as 80.4%）； compared with open-field production， irrigation electricity consumption and agricultural film input emissions for facility vegetables increase significantly， reaching up to 57.87%. This study can provide scientific support for developing differentiated green production strategies and precise emission reduction measures in China.
- vegetable production,
- carbon footprint,
- life cycle assessment （LCA）,
- process contribution analysis,
- agricultural emission reduction

FullText(HTML)

References(33)

References

[1]	IPCC. Climate change 2023：AR6 synthesis report：summary for policymakers［Z］. Geneva：Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change，2023.
[2]	JIANG X Y，ZHOU H，HU X D. Current situation，problems and countermeasures of China's vegetable circulation system［J］. Agricultural Outlook，2024，20（4）：3- 10. 姜心怡，周慧，胡向东. 中国蔬菜流通体系现状、问题及对策［J］. 农业展望，2024，20（4）：3- 10.
[3]	CHEN L，YAN M，PAN G X. Evaluation of the carbon footprint of greenhouse vegetable production based on questionnaire survey from Nanjing，China［J］. Journal of Agro-Environment Science，2011，30（9）：1791- 1796. 陈琳，闫明，潘根兴. 南京地区大棚蔬菜生产的碳足迹调查分析［J］. 农业环境科学学报，2011，30（9）：1791- 1796.
[4]	FAN J L，GUO D W，HAN L，et al. Spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon footprint of main crop production in China［J］. Int J Environ Res Public Health，2022，19（21）：14.
[5]	WANG W，LIN J Y，CUI S H，et al. An overview of carbon footprint analysis［J］. Environmental Science & Technology，2010，33（7）：71- 78. 王微，林剑艺，崔胜辉，等. 碳足迹分析方法研究综述［J］. 环境科学与技术，2010，33（7）：71- 78.
[6]	CHEN S，LU F，WANG X K. Estimation of greenhouse gases emission factors for China's nitrogen，phosphate，and potash fertilizers［J］. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2015，35（19）：6371- 6383. 陈舜，逯非，王效科. 中国氮磷钾肥制造温室气体排放系数的估算［J］. 生态学报，2015，35（19）：6371- 6383.
[7]	XU Y T，MU Y Y. Environmental efficiency and its decomposition of protected vegetable production based on carbon footprint［J］. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning，2020，41（5）：16- 25. 徐依婷，穆月英. 基于碳足迹的设施蔬菜生产环境效率及其分解［J］. 中国农业资源与区划，2020，41（5）：16- 25.
[8]	NOTARNICOLA B，SALA S，ANTON A，et al. The role of life cycle assessment in supporting sustainable agri-food systems:A review of the challenges［J］. J Clean Prod，2017，140：399- 409.
[9]	TRICASE C，LAMONACA E，INGRAO C，et al. A comparative life cycle assessment between organic and conventional barley cultivation for sustainable agriculture pathways［J］. J Clean Prod，2018，172：3747- 3759.
[10]	WANG X X，ZHANG L，ZHANG W D，et al. Effects of cultivation years on the greenhouse gas emission of greenhouse vegetable soils in a Beijing suburb［J］. Journal of Agro-Environment Science，2021，40（7）：1601- 1610. 王学霞，张磊，张卫东，等. 种植年限对京郊设施菜地温室气体排放的影响［J］. 农业环境科学学报，2021，40（7）：1601- 1610.
[11]	ZHANG C H，HAN L，XIE J N，et al. Carbon footprint dynamics and composition assessment of major crops production in Jiangsu province［J］. Journal of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology，2022，14（1）：110- 119. 张传红，韩露，谢佳男，等. 江苏省主要农作物碳足迹动态及其构成研究［J］. 南京信息工程大学学报（自然科学版），2022，14（1）：110- 119.
[12]	HAN X Y，HAN X，LI T L，et al. Study on carbon footprint accounting by provinces and emission reduction strategy of potato in China：based on life cycle assessment［J］. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning，2024，45（1）：11- 19. 韩欣怡，韩雪，李廷亮，等. 中国马铃薯分省碳足迹核算与减排策略研究：基于生命周期评价法［J］. 中国农业资源与区划，2024，45（1）：11- 19.
[13]	SHI L G，CHEN F，KONG F L，et al. The carbon footprint of winter wheat-summer maize cropping pattern on North China Plain［J］. China Population，Resources and Environment，2011，21（9）：93- 98. 史磊刚，陈阜，孔凡磊，等. 华北平原冬小麦-夏玉米种植模式碳足迹研究［J］. 中国人口·资源与环境，2011，21（9）：93- 98.
[14]	Office of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China. Guidelines for compilation of provincial greenhouse gas emission inventories（trial）［R］. Beijing：National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China. 中华人民共和国国家发展和改革委员会办公厅. 省级温室气体排放清单编制指南（试行）［R］. 北京：国家发展和改革委员会，2011.
[15]	Price Department of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China. Compilation of national agricultural product cost and benefit data（2018—2022）［M］. Beijing：National Development and Reform Commission，2019. 国家发展和改革委员会价格司. 全国农产品成本收益资料汇编（2018—2022）［M］. 北京：国家发展和改革委员会，2019.
[16]	Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning. China products carbon footprint factors database（2022）［R］. Beijing：Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning，2022.
[17]	LIU W W，ZHANG G，WANG X K，et al. Carbon footprint of main crop production in China：Magnitude，spatial-temporal pattern and attribution［J］. Sci Total Environ，2018，645：1296- 308.
[18]	YUE Q，XU X，HILLIER J，et al. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture：From farm production to food consumption［J］. J Clean Prod，2017，149：1011- 1019.
[19]	POORE J，NEMECEK T. Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers［J］. Science，2018，360（6392）：987.
[20]	WU W L，XIE Y T，DONG X M，et al. Evaluation of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions under combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer in plastic greenhouse tomato production［J］. Jiangsu Journal of Agricultural Sciences，2021，37（6）：1516- 1525. 吴文丽，谢英添，董晓鸣，等. 塑料中棚番茄有机肥与化肥配施能耗与温室气体排放评估［J］. 江苏农业学报，2021，37（6）：1516- 1525.
[21]	HILLIER J，HAWES C，SQUIRE G，et al. The carbon footprints of food crop production［J］. Int J Agric Sustain，2009，7（2）：107- 18.
[22]	PLATIS D P，MAMOLOS A P，KALBURTJI K L，et al. Analysis of energy and carbon and blue water footprints in agriculture：a case study of tomato cultivation systems［J］. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration，2021，6（1）：12.
[23]	ADEWALE C，HIGGINS S，GRANATSTEIN D，et al. Identifying hotspots in the carbon footprint of a small scale organic vegetable farm［J］. Agricultural Systems，2016，149：112- 121.
[24]	FU W，XU Y Y，WANG F L，et al. Temporal and spatial evolution of carbon footprint of farmland ecosystems in China［J］. Ecological Economy，2024，40（1）：88- 94. 付伟，徐媛媛，王福利，等. 中国省域农田生态系统碳足迹时空演变分析［J］. 生态经济，2024，40（1）：88- 94.
[25]	ZHAO R Q，QIN M Z. Temporospatial variation of partial carbon source/sink of farmland ecosystem in coastal China［J］. Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment，2007（2）：1- 6，11. 赵荣钦，秦明周. 中国沿海地区农田生态系统部分碳源/汇时空差异［J］. 生态与农村环境学报，2007（2）：1- 6，11.
[26]	WANG Y C，WANG L Y，GAO Z L，et al. Effects of applying organic manure and chemical fertilizers on N₂O emissions from tomato greenhouse soil［J］. Journal of Hebei Agricultural University，2016，39（3）：1- 6. 王耀聪，王利英，高志岭，等. 施用有机肥、化肥对设施番茄土壤N₂O排放的影响［J］. 河北农业大学学报，2016，39（3）：1- 6.
[27]	SNYDER C S，BRUULSEMA T W，JENSEN T L，et al. Review of greenhouse gas emissions from crop production systems and fertilizer management effects［J］. Agric Ecosyst Environ，2009，133（3/4）：247- 266.
[28]	LIANG T，LIAO D X，WANG S，et al. The nitrogen and carbon footprints of vegetable production in the subtropical high elevation mountain region［J］. Ecol Indic，2021，122：11.
[29]	CHEN A Q，ZHENG X Z，GUO B L，et al. Simulation on short-term emission of N₂O from vegetable soil under long-term fertilization combined with DCD treatment［J］. Journal of Agricultural Resources and Environment，2024，41（4）：807- 815. 陈安琦，郑祥洲，郭宝玲，等. 长期施肥配施DCD处理对菜地土壤N₂O短期排放影响的模拟研究［J］. 农业资源与环境学报，2024，41（4）：807- 815.
[30]	HAN Z，LENG Y，SUN Z，et al. Substitution of organic and bio-organic fertilizers for mineral fertilizers to suppress nitrous oxide emissions from intensive vegetable fields［J］. J Environ Manage，2024，349：119390.
[31]	BUTTERBACH-BAHL K，DANNENMANN M. Denitrification and associated soil N₂O emissions due to agricultural activities in a changing climate［J］. Curr Opin Environ Sustain，2011，3（5）：389- 395.
[32]	KE H D，KONG C C，LEI H J，et al. Assessment of the N₂O emission reduction potential in greenhouse vegetable fields based on the DNDC model［J］. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture，2022，30（8）：1269- 1282. 柯华东，孔陈琛，雷豪杰，等. 基于DNDC模型的设施菜地N₂O减排潜力评估［J］. 中国生态农业学报（中英文），2022，30（8）：1269- 1282.
[33]	LIU Y C，LIU M Y，ZHAO D F，et al. Effects of different irrigation methods on N₂O emission from potato field soils in sandy area of Northern Shaanxi［J］. Journal of Yulin University，2022，32（4）：32- 37. 刘远超，刘梦圆，赵殿峰，等. 不同灌溉方式对陕北沙区马铃薯农田土壤N₂O排放的影响［J］. 榆林学院学报，2022，32（4）：32- 37.