Total CO2-equivalent GHG Emissions from Agricultural Human Labour in Turkey

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the most important greenhouse gases (GHG) whose increased emissions have significantly enhanced greenhouse effect, thus changing global climate. To keep up with the rising growth rates of human population and consumption in spite of decreasing agricultural human labour, finding ways to boost sustainable agricultural production through mechanization has gained importance instead of relying solely on human efforts. The present study aims at the quantification of total CO₂-equivalent GHG emissions (CO_2eq) from agricultural human labour required in tillage, cultivation, maintenance, harvesting, and transportation for 58 agricultural crops cultivated in Turkey. Our quantification was based on minimum and maximum values of human labour energy reported in related literature and the coefficient of 0.36 kg CO_2eq per MJ. Our results showed that GHG emissions varied between 49.41 and 1232.66 Gg CO_2eq for wheat, 1.44 and 72.68 Gg CO_2eq for chickpea, and 49.50 and 154.43 Gg CO_2eq for tomatoes. There is a pressing need for agricultural GHG emissions from human efforts and mechanization to be reduced and balanced.