Life Cycle inventory of agricultural tractors

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of agricultural systems are performed using inventory data from several databases. The inventory data used for agricultural machinery and especially agricultural tractors in these databases are based on old data (from 2002 and not updated since) using trucks (“lorry”) as a proxy for the manufacture of tractors. In consequences, they do not reflect the current technology used by farmers and do not allow comparison with new technologies in used in farms such as agricultural robots.

The dataset presents two updated Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of an agricultural tractor. Data were collected based on the technical system of a tractor manufacturer, scientific and technical literature as well as expert opinion. Data on weight, composition, lifetime and maintenance hours of each tractor component as well as electronic parts, converter catalyst and lead battery are produced. The inventory is calculated based on the raw materials needed for the tractor manufacturing and maintenance over its lifetime as well as the energy and infrastructure needed for manufacturing.

Calculations were made based on a tractor of 7300 kg with the following characteristics: 155 CV, 6 cylinders, four-wheel drive. The tractor modelled is representative of tractors from the same power category (i.e. between 100 and 199 CV and 70% of the annual sales in France). Two LCI are produced: a LCI for a 7200 h lifetime tractor, representative of an accounting depreciation, and a LCI for a 12000 h lifetime tractor, representative of the whole service life of the tractor (first use to final disposal). The functional unit is 1 kg of tractor (kg) or 1 piece (p) of tractor during its lifetime.