Includes CD/CD var:Environmental impact assessment of Paddy Rice Production in Nigeria, using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) method

Includes references(107-120 p.)

'ABSTRACT The research was conducted on environmental impact assessment of paddy rice production in Nigeria, using life cycle analysis (LCA) method. The lack of data on environmental impact of agricultural activities and reliable findings on rice production with respect to environmental issues remain a gap in the Nigerian literature. This work aimed to determine the environmental impact of rice paddy production in Nigeria as an effort to bridge this gap. Theoretical based information is used in this work drown from various experimental research within and outside the country conducted by individual and research organizations. The baseline and four different alternatives methods of rice production investigated, 1810 kg of rice paddy ha-1used as a function unit for this study. The results revealed the existence of EDP, GWP, ECA, NP, HTP AP and NDP of land use. The magnitudes of these potential found varying due to the variations in the amount of the resources use in farm operation associated with each alternative and the baseline as well. The work concluded that, significant environmental impact exists and the nitrification, global warming and acidification potential are more pronounced impact in Nigerian rice paddy production. The use of diesel fuel and agrochemical in farm operation are the potential areas for mitigating the observed impact. Transplanting with zero ploughing and organic manure (the Alternative 4) in rice paddy production is the safest choice for the environment among the baseline and four alternatives studied. It was recommended that, more LCA of rice paddy production in Nigeria should be conducted with wider system boundary. Speedy action in mitigating the observed impact through researches, strong government regulation, steady environmental monitoring and control should be put in place to revert any alarming to the environmental impact from agriculture. Inconsistency in similar items published in different articles and reports, lack of appropriate software for LCA and lack of characterization factor for some of the emissions are the major challenges in this thesis. Keywords: life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment, rice production, emissions.'