Vegetable crops vary widely in their total greenhouse gas emissions as well as emissions by area of production. For example, potato production results in by far the greatest total emissions of CO2-e, being more than three times more than the next largest production category. However, in terms of emissions per hectare of cultivated crop, potatoes are close to the average for vegetables as a whole (9.2 t CO2-e/ha).
Perhaps the most important consideration for those concerned about this issue is the emissions per tonne of crop produced. Lower yielding, although high value, crops such as peas and asparagus are the highest emitters of CO2-e per tonne, while cucumbers, celery and carrots are the lowest.