LCA is cradle to grave analysis of embodied energy. This is an environmental and energy related topic studied in an inter-disciplinary approach. Textile fibers and textile products attracted early attention, but studies of such kind on silk are rather scarce.
Hi Rajesh, sorry but I'm not aware of any such study. If you find any, I'd be interested to see whether other sectors are included as well, and how they were considered in the study. E.g. I understand mulberry leaves are used as the main feed for silk worms, and I was discussing the other day whether mulberry fruit production should then be considered as a separate sector, or the fruit is actually a by-product of sericulture!? I presume it's all down to what drives a farmer to plant a mulberry fruit orchard: is it to sell the leaves to sericulture, or to sell the fruit?
Good luck, and please keep me posted of your outcomes!
Llorenc
Hi Llorenç
Thanks for your response and for the interesting sub topic that you raised. Well, the utility of mulberry plant is primarily considered as that of its leaves being the food of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. However mulberry has many other uses as well. As you rightly pointed out the berry is delicious and nutritious, which has also found commercial application in many parts of the world. The wood is an excellent timber, also being used in sports industry. The tender leaves are used as equivalent to 'tea' in many countries. There are many medicinal applications also. If you are interested, I can give you more info in these lines. However, owing to its major application in sericulture, where the plan is grown as bush and subjected to periodical and frequent training, none of the other utilities can be availed as by-products. But I know there are a few varieties that can yield very big and sweet berries, with potential for commercial exploitation. In India however, the fruit and timber is not a significant industry. Hence there is little scope of LCA of that part. But LCA of silk is really important as for India.
Many thanks Rajesh, really helpful! I was not aware the production of mulberry was so focused on sericulture in India; I know in China there is significant fruit production, and I thought this would be related to leaf production, but from what you say I gather that trees might be grown for either leaves or fruit?
Good luck with your research on sericulture; if I find something useful I will send it your way!
Kind regards, Llorenc
http://www.academia.edu/3609958/Life_Cycle_Assessment_LCA_of_Raw_Silk and Oxford Silk Group - www.oxfordsilkgroup.com
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agricultural Science