Life cycle assessment of environmental and economic analysis of maize farming in India: balancing sustainability and profitability across farm sizes

Focusing on sustainable agriculture production, this study presents a thorough analysis of the environmental and economic aspects of maize grain cultivation across farm sizes. Primary data were collected from 210 maize farmers via multistage random sampling through direct interviews during the 2021-2022 crop year, with rigorous pretesting to ensure reliability. The study examines different environmental impact categories and economic performance, revealing the relationship between land size and financial outcomes. The global warming potential per hectare increased across farm size categories, with large farms emitting 2.600 t CO2e/ha, medium farms 2.364 t CO2e/ha, and small farms 2.3049 t CO2e/ha, primarily due to the more resource-intensive practices on larger farms. Other environmental impacts revealed that large farms had higher acidification and fresh eutrophication potentials. Economic analysis showed that large farms achieved higher gross returns, while small and medium farms recorded better net revenue and lower costs per unit of maize produced, reflecting higher economic efficiency. Carbon efficiency and the carbon sustainability index highlighted the advantage of small and medium farms in managing emissions while maintaining productivity. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, such as optimized fertilizer use, efficient irrigation, and mechanization to reduce emissions and enhance profitability. These findings highlight the potential of small- and medium-scale farms to lead sustainable agricultural production, suggesting that collaborative strategies promoting sustainable inputs and technologies can support environmental and economic goals in maize farming.