This study aims at the eco-efficiency assessment of the SinistraOfanto irrigation scheme under different climatic conditions. The concept is based on the ratio between the product added value and the environmental impacts in terms of water, energy and fertilizer inputs and of outputs/emissions to water, soil and air. Economic data included production costs and market prices. The methodology applied 11 midpoint environmental impact categories selected as being the most representative for the system environmental assessment and divided into 2 processes: background, including the resources production (water, fertilizers and energy), and foreground, including those stages where resources are used.
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Wet, normal and dry climatic conditions were defined through the frequency analysis done by ISAREG for each crop with monthly climatic data, while simulations were based on daily weather data recorded for 11 years. Yield estimation was done by applying different irrigation strategies and factors. The analysis was performed by using Systemic Environmental Analysis Tool (SEAT) and Economic Value Chain Analysis Tool (EVAT) developed within the EcoWater project. The best system eco-efficiency was obtained during rainy years due to the lowest irrigation input. Water and corresponding energy consumption mainly affected the system performance under different climate conditions while fertilizers impact remained unchanged.
