Implementing a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate organic farming weed control and fertilizers environmental implications

, and energy use of 9-37 MJ. Over 95 % of these impacts are driven by irrigation, fertilizers, and weed and pest management. Significant differences between treatments underscore the role of crop-specific farming practices. Finger-weeding consistently lowered environmental impact across most conditions, whereas cultivation and flaming generally resulted in moderate to high impacts regardless of fertilizer level. Hand-weeding had the lowest environmental impact but was the most labor-intensive approach. The untreated control consistently led to the highest environmental burdens, reinforcing the necessity of effective weed management. By identifying key environmental hotspots, this study provides a foundation for optimizing weed control and fertilization strategies, integrating best farming practices, and informing policies to improve the sustainability and resilience of organic cropping systems in Mediterranean agriculture.