Emergy and Environmental Assessment of Various Greenhouse Cultivation Systems

Horticultural facilities can boost crop yields and quality. However, their structures, costs, and resource efficiency vary significantly. Many facility operators prioritize short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term investments in energy efficiency and environmental management, ultimately leading to increased energy consumption and higher greenhouse gas emissions. A systems-based assessment of tomato production is essential for optimizing resource use. This study integrated emergy analysis (EMA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the sustainability of three tomato production systems: polytunnels, solar greenhouses, and glass greenhouses. The Results demonstrated that polytunnels exhibited the best environmental performance, with the lowest environmental loading ratio (ELR, 19.06) and environmental final index (EFI, 1.62). Solar greenhouses showed the best environmental composite index (ECI), outperforming others in mitigating potential environmental impacts. Glass greenhouses imposed the greatest environmental pressure (ELR, 168.51), primarily due to substantial natural gas consumption and infrastructure investment. Scenario analyses revealed that environmental performance across all systems could be significantly enhanced through shortening transport distance, extending the service life of construction materials, and managing energy use. The maximum reduction potentials for the environmental composite index (ECI)were 23.80% for polytunnels, 18.60% for solar greenhouses, and 19.90% for glass greenhouses. This study confirms that polytunnels are the most environmentally friendly option, and targeted management strategies can effectively steer facility-based agriculture toward a more sustainable trajectory.