Spinach

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers commercial production of fresh, unprocessed spinach leaves from field or protected-cultivation establishment through crop management, cutting or pulling, field removal of soil and foreign material, optional washing and cooling, primary packaging, and hand-off at the declared farm gate or pack-house gate. It covers baby-leaf, bunching, and whole-leaf fresh-market routes when the product state and harvest route are declared. Spinach seed production, nursery production of planting material, frozen or canned spinach, prepared meals, retail, consumer storage, cooking, and consumption are excluded. Processing energy and packaging are included only when they occur before the declared gate.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.agriculture-forestry-and-fishery-products.products-of-agriculture-horticulture-and-market-gardening.spinach
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:01215 Spinach; mapping relation: exact
covered_products	Fresh, unprocessed spinach leaves, baby leaf, bunches, or whole plants delivered at the declared gate
excluded_products	Spinach seed and planting material, frozen, canned, dried, cooked, pureed, or otherwise processed spinach, and downstream retail or consumption
representative_product	Marketable fresh spinach leaves meeting the declared harvest size, cleanliness, trimming, and grade requirements
production_route	Direct seeding or transplanted establishment, managed leaf production, repeated or single cutting, grading, optional washing and cooling, and primary packing
market_state	Fresh, unprocessed spinach at farm-gate or pack-house gate in loose, bunched, or declared primary packaging

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Marketable fresh spinach at the declared farm-gate or pack-house gate
How much	1,000 kg
How well	Fresh and unprocessed, with declared leaf age or cut, harvest form, cleanliness, trimming, grade, moisture condition, and packaging state
How long or cycle	One declared crop cycle and harvest campaign; successive cuts from one sowing are aggregated to the same crop-cycle output
reference_flow_link	spinach_farm_gate_output

Field	Value
Reference amount	1000
Reference product flow	Fresh spinach at farm gate
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	production geography; crop type (baby leaf, bunching, or whole leaf); variety or cultivar group; sowing or transplanting date; harvest date and cut number; declared gate; grade and size criteria; soil or protected-cultivation route; washed or unwashed state; cooling state; packaging state

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_spinach_mass	marketable spinach and harvest records	Mass	kg	Keep gross cut mass, marketable fresh mass, rejected material, soil or foreign material, and field residue as separate measured or calculated quantities.
area_yield_normalization	field and protected-cultivation records	Area and mass	ha and kg	Record inputs and harvests by bed, field, or protected unit and normalize to the marketable output from the same crop cycle.
nutrient_product_basis	fertilizer and compost inputs	Mass of product and declared nutrient	kg product, kg N, kg P2O5, or kg K2O	Give every actual fertilizer or amendment product its own card, retaining physical product mass, formulation, nutrient composition and application records. Nutrient quantities are not additional inputs of the same product; collection or group identifiers cannot substitute for a concrete flow identity.
water_volume_basis	irrigation and washing water	Volume	m3	Record metered or calculated delivered water separately for crop irrigation and post-harvest washing; do not replace irrigation with rainfall unless the declared method requires a water balance.
multi_cut_output	baby-leaf and repeated-harvest routes	Mass	kg	Sum marketable cuts from the declared sowing or transplanting campaign and reconcile each cut with rejects and unharvested crop material.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Prepared production bed or protected-cultivation unit receiving spinach seed or transplant material, with prior land use and excluded infrastructure work disclosed
starting_condition_role	Start of the declared spinach crop cycle and input accounting
product_classification_scope	Fresh spinach under CPC 3.0:01215 through the declared farm-gate or pack-house gate
recursive_input_rule	Purchased spinach seed or transplant material is an upstream product input linked once; its own production is outside this PCR unless a separate upstream dataset is supplied.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Require upstream datasets for seed or transplants, fertilizers, amendments, crop-protection products, irrigation water, energy, packaging, and purchased transport or treatment services when used.
disclosure	Declare production geography, field or protected route, crop cycle, sowing density, irrigation source and meter basis, nutrient basis, crop-protection program, harvest form, yield and reject reconciliation, washing and cooling, packaging, residue fate, and gate location.

Boundary Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_crop_cycle	establishment and field management	Include bed preparation, sowing or transplanting, crop management, and crop-cycle inputs that produce the declared spinach output; disclose prior land use and exclude unrelated infrastructure construction.	ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025
boundary_gate_preparation	harvest and packing	End the foreground system at the declared farm-gate or pack-house gate and include cutting, grading, trimming, washing, cooling, and primary packaging when they occur before that gate.	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard; psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025
boundary_soil_emissions	fertilizer, crop residues, and managed soil	Estimate applicable direct and indirect nitrogen emissions using one declared method and the recorded nutrient inputs and residue fate; avoid double counting a nitrogen pathway.	ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen
boundary_residue_fate	field residue, rejects, and trim	Record field return, composting, feed use, treatment, or disposal separately; a material with no demonstrated productive use remains a residue or waste flow.	ucanr-spinach-production-2011; usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
crop_establishment	Spinach crop establishment	required	every represented sowing or transplanting campaign	foreground crop establishment	established bed or protected-cultivation area
crop_management	Spinach crop management	required	each represented crop cycle	foreground managed biological production	managed area and crop-cycle harvest
harvest_and_gate_preparation	Harvest and gate preparation	required	each represented harvest campaign	foreground harvest, conditioning, and gate hand-off	1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach

Process: Spinach crop establishment (crop_establishment)

Inputs

Product flows

Urea fertilizer (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_urea)

Collection scope and applicability for crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs. The following concrete identities have separate cards and apply only when use or generation is evidenced inside the original process scope. They are not mandatory inputs or a default recipe. Document non-use; missing records are not zero. Add a separate concrete card for any other actual material instead of substituting one of these names or UUIDs. Preserve attribution and boundaries and avoid double counting components included in outsourced services.

Collect each fertilizer product separately. Preserve each actual product identity, quantity, formulation, nutrient composition, application event, and allocation; do not count a compound product more than once. Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach from the same crop cycle.

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the product UUID does not establish actual use or upstream-provider compatibility. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Urea 3f8850c0-f718-4c4b-8fcb-8fd42e03aa8e
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Use this product identity only when the actual formulation and grade are compatible. Retain supplier composition and mass records; do not substitute nutrient mass, dilute solution mass or service activity for the product mass. The UUID alone supplies neither a dose nor an emission factor.

Ammonium sulfate fertilizer (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_ammonium_sulfate)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the product UUID does not establish actual use or upstream-provider compatibility. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Ammonium sulfate 8c6f0cbb-16d7-4dc9-8d55-e8dea17d7faf
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Use this product identity only when the actual formulation and grade are compatible. Retain supplier composition and mass records; do not substitute nutrient mass, dilute solution mass or service activity for the product mass. The UUID alone supplies neither a dose nor an emission factor.

Triple superphosphate fertilizer (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_triple_superphosphate)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Triple superphosphate fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Potassium chloride fertilizer (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_potassium_chloride)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Potassium chloride fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Cattle manure applied as fertilizer (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_cattle_manure)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Cattle manure applied as fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-organic-nutrients

Composted plant residues applied to soil (crop_establishment_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_plant_compost)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Composted plant residues applied to soil
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_establishment_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_establishment_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-organic-nutrients

Flow: Irrigation water for establishment (establishment_irrigation_water)

Record water delivered for bed preparation, germination, or transplant establishment separately from later crop irrigation.

• Selected flow: Irrigation water

• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3

• Amount rule: Metered or water-balance estimate for establishment irrigation by bed and source.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach from the same crop cycle.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_irrigation_records

• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; fao-spinach-irrigation-schedule

• Range: Provisional author establishment-water estimate; endpoints not supplied by the scheduling sources

  • Range role: Typical range (typical_range)
  • Lower: 100
  • Upper: 300
  • Unit: m3/ha
  • Basis: delivered irrigation between seeding and emergence or transplant establishment
  • Basis kind: Crop cycle (crop_cycle)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Diesel fuel (establishment_machinery_fuel_diesel)

Only for documented diesel-powered machinery within this operation. Retain fuel grade and formulation; convert recorded volume with measured or supplier-supported density. Other powertrains require their actual carrier, not a diesel equivalent. Apply establishment_machinery_fuel_specific_input; this example is not mandatory. Do not double count inclusive machinery services or a purchased-electricity supply for electricity transferred internally from an on-site generator. Actual fuel combustion and generator emissions remain separately accountable.

• Selected flow: Diesel fuel 9d258d75-6792-4f1c-9856-81602ed8f816
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect this carrier under cp_field_energy_records for crop_establishment. Attribute shared use once; scale attributed raw quantity by the declared reference amount divided by matched accepted final output quantity in the same product unit, retaining measured stage throughput and original allocation rules. Do not normalize an already normalized amount again.
• Value mode: calculated_value
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: calculated_from_collection
• Collection protocol: cp_field_energy_records
• Sources: route-energy-fao

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Flow: Occupation of spinach production area (establishment_land_occupation)

Record the area occupied by the bed or protected unit for the crop-cycle establishment and attribution period.

• Selected flow: Occupation, agricultural land

• Flow property / unit: Area-time / m2*a

• Amount rule: Declared productive area multiplied by the represented crop-cycle duration.

• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)

• Collection protocol: cp_field_records

• Sources: govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025

• Range: Production-area screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.02
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: ha per 1,000 kg
  • Basis: declared crop-cycle area normalized to marketable output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Spinach crop management (crop_management)

Inputs

Product flows

Urea fertilizer (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_urea)

Collection scope and applicability for crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs. The following concrete identities have separate cards and apply only when use or generation is evidenced inside the original process scope. They are not mandatory inputs or a default recipe. Document non-use; missing records are not zero. Add a separate concrete card for any other actual material instead of substituting one of these names or UUIDs. Preserve attribution and boundaries and avoid double counting components included in outsourced services.

Collect each fertilizer product separately. Preserve each actual product identity, quantity, formulation, nutrient composition, application event, and allocation; do not count a compound product more than once. Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the product UUID does not establish actual use or upstream-provider compatibility. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Urea 3f8850c0-f718-4c4b-8fcb-8fd42e03aa8e
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Use this product identity only when the actual formulation and grade are compatible. Retain supplier composition and mass records; do not substitute nutrient mass, dilute solution mass or service activity for the product mass. The UUID alone supplies neither a dose nor an emission factor.

Ammonium sulfate fertilizer (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_ammonium_sulfate)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the product UUID does not establish actual use or upstream-provider compatibility. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Ammonium sulfate 8c6f0cbb-16d7-4dc9-8d55-e8dea17d7faf
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Use this product identity only when the actual formulation and grade are compatible. Retain supplier composition and mass records; do not substitute nutrient mass, dilute solution mass or service activity for the product mass. The UUID alone supplies neither a dose nor an emission factor.

Triple superphosphate fertilizer (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_triple_superphosphate)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Triple superphosphate fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Potassium chloride fertilizer (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_potassium_chloride)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Potassium chloride fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-fertilizer-identities

Cattle manure applied as fertilizer (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_cattle_manure)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Cattle manure applied as fertilizer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-organic-nutrients

Composted plant residues applied to soil (crop_management_agricultural_nutrient_inputs_plant_compost)

Confirm identity, grade, state and unit from equipment, supplier and contemporaneous measurements; the UUID remains unverified. Count physical product mass once and retain moisture, N/P/K composition and application events; nutrient quantities are calculated attributes, not additional purchases of the same product. Give unlisted compound and organic fertilizers separate cards identified by formulation or feedstock.

• Selected flow: Composted plant residues applied to soil
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Collect raw quantities for this identity under cp_nutrient_records and calculate the exchange per declared reference flow using the original attribution rules.
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records
• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025; fao-organic-nutrients

Flow: Irrigation water during crop growth (crop_irrigation_water)

Record irrigation delivered during crop growth by field, source, and irrigation event or meter period.

• Selected flow: Irrigation water

• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3

• Amount rule: Sum metered or documented water-balance irrigation deliveries for the represented crop cycle.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_irrigation_records

• Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011; fao-spinach-irrigation-schedule

• Range: California fresh-market applied-water context; not a universal irrigation limit

  • Range role: Typical range (typical_range)
  • Lower: 1016
  • Upper: 3048
  • Unit: m3/ha
  • Basis: California seeding-to-harvest clipped crop 4–8 acre-inches/acre (1016–2032 m3/ha), bunch crop 6–12 (1524–3048); 1 inch depth = 254 m3/ha. Excludes processed routes and pre-tillage water; use actual field water balance.
  • Basis kind: Crop cycle (crop_cycle)
  • Evidence kind: External source (external_source)
  • Sources: ucanr-spinach-production-2011

Diesel fuel (crop_machinery_fuel_diesel)

Only for documented diesel-powered machinery within this operation. Retain fuel grade and formulation; convert recorded volume with measured or supplier-supported density. Other powertrains require their actual carrier, not a diesel equivalent. Apply crop_machinery_fuel_specific_input; this example is not mandatory. Do not double count inclusive machinery services or a purchased-electricity supply for electricity transferred internally from an on-site generator. Actual fuel combustion and generator emissions remain separately accountable.

• Selected flow: Diesel fuel 9d258d75-6792-4f1c-9856-81602ed8f816
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collect this carrier under cp_field_energy_records for crop_management. Attribute shared use once; scale attributed raw quantity by the declared reference amount divided by matched accepted final output quantity in the same product unit, retaining measured stage throughput and original allocation rules. Do not normalize an already normalized amount again.
• Value mode: calculated_value
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: calculated_from_collection
• Collection protocol: cp_field_energy_records
• Sources: route-energy-fao

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Flow: Harvest-ready fresh spinach from the crop (harvest_ready_spinach_output)

Record the fresh spinach mass leaving the crop-management process for cutting, pulling, or pack-house preparation.

• Selected flow: Harvest-ready fresh spinach

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg

• Amount rule: Field or bed harvest record before post-harvest reject and trim separation.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_harvest_reconciliation

• Sources: psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

• Range: Harvest mass reconciliation screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1000
  • Upper: 1500
  • Unit: kg harvested mass per 1,000 kg marketable output
  • Basis: gross field harvest before grading, trimming, and reject separation
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Flow: Unmarketable field spinach and crop loss (field_spinach_loss_output)

Record unharvested, damaged, bolted, or otherwise unmarketable spinach remaining in the field or removed before gate preparation.

• Selected flow: Unmarketable spinach and crop loss

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg wet material

• Amount rule: Difference between potential or harvested crop mass and documented marketable output, with the physical fate declared.

• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)

• Collection protocol: cp_harvest_reconciliation

• Sources: psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

• Range: Field-loss screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 500
  • Unit: kg wet material per 1,000 kg marketable output
  • Basis: field and pre-pack losses
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Flow: Direct nitrous oxide from managed soil (direct_n2o_air_output)

Calculate direct soil nitrous oxide from declared nitrogen inputs and the selected IPCC-compatible method; report the result to air.

• Selected flow: Nitrous oxide, emissions to air

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg N2O

• Amount rule: Apply the declared nitrogen-emission factor to eligible crop-cycle nitrogen inputs and account for the selected climate and soil method.

• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: N input (n_input)

• Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)

• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records

• Sources: ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen

• Range: Provisional author screening estimate; endpoints are not IPCC limits

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 15
  • Unit: kg N2O/ha
  • Basis: managed-soil nitrogen emissions for the represented crop cycle
  • Basis kind: N input (n_input)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Flow: Nitrate to freshwater from field losses (nitrate_freshwater_output)

Model nitrate loss to freshwater only when the declared foreground water balance or emission method supports it.

• Selected flow: Nitrate, emissions to freshwater

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg NO3-

• Amount rule: Calculate from eligible nitrogen surplus and the selected site or method factor; do not infer a loss from fertilizer purchase alone.

• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: N input (n_input)

• Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)

• Collection protocol: cp_nutrient_records

• Sources: ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen

• Range: Nitrate-loss QA screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 40
  • Unit: kg NO3-/ha
  • Basis: declared nitrogen surplus and water-loss pathway
  • Basis kind: N input (n_input)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Process: Harvest and gate preparation (harvest_and_gate_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Flow: Harvest-ready fresh spinach entering preparation (harvest_ready_spinach_input)

Record the harvested spinach transferred from the field or protected unit into grading, trimming, washing, cooling, or primary packing.

• Selected flow: Harvest-ready fresh spinach

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg

• Amount rule: Transfer ticket or receiving scale record reconciled to the originating crop-cycle harvest.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_harvest_reconciliation

• Sources: psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

• Range: Preparation receiving-mass screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1000
  • Upper: 1500
  • Unit: kg received material per 1,000 kg marketable spinach
  • Basis: harvested spinach received for grading, washing, cooling, or packing
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Flow: Wash water for optional post-harvest cleaning (wash_water_input)

Record water used for washing or removing soil and foreign material when washing occurs before the declared gate.

• Selected flow: Process water

• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3

• Amount rule: Metered or batch-recorded water used for spinach washing, excluding crop irrigation water.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable washed spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_postharvest_records

• Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

• Range: Wash-water QA screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: m3 per 1,000 kg marketable spinach
  • Basis: batch washing or flume water crossing the gate-preparation boundary
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Flow: Electricity for washing, cooling, and packing (postharvest_electricity_input)

Record electricity used by washing, forced-air cooling, weighing, sorting, and packing equipment when those operations are in scope.

• Selected flow: Electricity supply

• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh

• Amount rule: Metered or equipment-level electricity allocated to the spinach throughput.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach at gate.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_postharvest_energy_records

• Sources: psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

• Range: Post-harvest electricity screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 5
  • Upper: 120
  • Unit: kWh per 1,000 kg marketable spinach
  • Basis: washing, cooling, grading, and packing operations
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Flow: Marketable fresh spinach at the declared gate (spinach_farm_gate_output)

Record the packed or unpacked spinach product that crosses the declared farm-gate or pack-house gate after grading and any in-scope washing or cooling.

• Selected flow: Fresh spinach at farm gate

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg Raw output measurement and reconciliation: Final saleable mass from scale, dispatch, or lot records after reject and trim reconciliation.

• Amount rule: 1000 kg

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: reference flow of 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_gate_output_records

• Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard; psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

• Range: Reference-output QA screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1000
  • Upper: 1000
  • Unit: kg marketable fresh spinach
  • Basis: declared reference output at the farm-gate or pack-house gate
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
  • Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

Waste flows

Flow: Used wash water or wastewater (wash_wastewater_output)

Record used wash water leaving the preparation process when it is discharged or sent to treatment before the declared gate.

• Selected flow: Wastewater from spinach washing

• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3

• Amount rule: Water input less documented retained or evaporated quantity, reconciled to discharge or treatment records.

• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)

• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable washed spinach.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)

• Collection protocol: cp_postharvest_records

• Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

• Range: Wash-wastewater screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: m3 per 1,000 kg marketable washed spinach
  • Basis: used wash water leaving the preparation boundary
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Flow: Washing and trimming reject (wash_trim_reject_output)

Record soil, damaged leaves, coarse stems, and trimming material removed during preparation, with its physical fate.

• Selected flow: Spinach washing and trimming reject

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg wet material

• Amount rule: Weigh or reconcile removed material against received and marketable packed spinach.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable spinach at gate.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_postharvest_records

• Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

• Range: Preparation-reject screen

  • Range role: Typical range (typical_range)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 250
  • Unit: kg wet material per 1,000 kg marketable spinach
  • Basis: soil, damaged leaves, coarse stems, and trim removed before gate
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Flow: Final spinach rejects at gate preparation (final_spinach_reject_output)

Record product rejected after grading or packing, including the declared route to feed, composting, treatment, or disposal.

• Selected flow: Final spinach rejects

• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg wet material

• Amount rule: Final grading and packing reject weight reconciled to received harvest and marketable output.

• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)

• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific) Raw activity or stage basis: per 1,000 kg marketable fresh spinach at gate.

• Normalization basis: per declared reference flow

• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)

• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)

• Collection protocol: cp_gate_output_records

• Sources: usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

• Range: Final-reject screen

  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 150
  • Unit: kg wet material per 1,000 kg marketable spinach
  • Basis: grading and packing rejects after preparation
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_single_crop_cycle	shared field, bed, or protected unit	Attribute crop-cycle inputs to spinach using the recorded bed or unit area and the crop-cycle output; do not allocate to a second crop without its own records.	ucanr-spinach-production-2011
allocation_multi_cut_spinach	repeated cuts from one sowing	Treat successive cuts as outputs of the same declared crop cycle and reconcile each cut before normalizing to total marketable spinach.	psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025
allocation_residue_fate	field residues, rejects, and trim	Do not assign a co-product credit to residues unless a documented recipient, quantity, and intended use exists; otherwise retain the burden with spinach production and report the residue fate.	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard

Concrete cards do not inherit numerical ranges from the former aggregate card. Determine quantities from original records, stock/meter reconciliation and the declared reference flow; no default quantity or numeric screen is supplied without evidence matching the identity, unit, period and boundary. Missing range evidence is a quality disclosure, not zero use or proof of completeness.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Specific input identification before dataset completion

Identify the actual input for this operation from supplier specifications, equipment and primary records. This is a mandatory collection requirement, not an exchange. Before dataset completeness, represent each used material, formulated product, carrier or independently purchased service by one physically specific card with its native quantity/property; confirm a compatible UUID, or retain an explicit unresolved identity and do not claim a fully linked dataset. Do not substitute a conditional example for an unknown actual input, invent a recipe, omit required use or infer zero from missing records. Attribute shared use, reusable assets and inclusive services once; preserve the original stage/period and measured throughput link to final reference output. The former aggregate range is not a component limit or consumption default.

requirement_id	collection_protocol_id	Preserved collection scope
establishment_machinery_fuel_specific_input	cp_field_energy_records	Operation crop_establishment: Record fuel used for bed preparation, cultivation, seeding, or transplanting when field machinery crosses the foreground boundary. Original quantity method: Metered fuel or equipment fuel log allocated to the spinach bed.
crop_protection_input_specific_input	cp_crop_protection_records	Operation crop_management: Record each crop-protection product by active ingredient or commercial formulation when it is applied to the spinach crop. Original quantity method: Supplier invoice, spray log, or application record by field and crop cycle.
crop_machinery_fuel_specific_input	cp_field_energy_records	Operation crop_management: Record fuel for cultivation, mechanical weed management, fertigation equipment, and other mobile machinery assigned to the crop cycle. Original quantity method: Fuel log or equipment activity estimate allocated to the spinach crop cycle.
primary_packaging_input_specific_input	cp_packaging_records	Operation harvest_and_gate_preparation: Record bags, bands, crates, cartons, or other packaging that crosses the declared gate-preparation boundary with the spinach. Original quantity method: Packaging bill of materials and counted units reconciled to packed marketable output.

Retain raw site, lot, cycle and stage quantities and denominators in each collection protocol. Reconcile stocks, losses, moisture and co-product attribution first, then normalize: normalized exchange = attributable raw exchange × declared reference quantity / accepted hand-off product quantity on the same boundary and measurement basis. Apply perennial-establishment and shared-operation attribution before this normalization. Never set an internal-transfer quantity equal to the final reference quantity. Per declared reference flow means the amount, unit and product state in section 3; the data package must declare its actual route and gate.

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_establishment_records	crop_establishment	seed, transplant, and establishment nutrients	seed invoice, seed lot, transplant, and input application records	lot id; material type; viable quantity; field or bed; date; product mass; nutrient concentration	retain supplier record and field application log; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum by campaign and normalize to marketable output	seed, plant, kg product, kg nutrient	each campaign and application	full represented crop cycle	each spinach bed or protected unit	per declared reference flow	supplier label, lot trace, application record, and crop-cycle reconciliation
cp_irrigation_records	crop_establishment; crop_management	establishment and crop irrigation	meter, pump, irrigation controller, or water-balance record	source; meter start and end; event date; area; irrigation method; rainfall adjustment	meter reading or documented water-balance calculation; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum delivered irrigation by crop cycle and source	m3	each event or meter period	full represented crop cycle	each field, bed, or protected unit	per declared reference flow	calibrated meter or documented balance inputs
cp_field_energy_records	crop_establishment; crop_management	mobile machinery fuel	fuel invoice and equipment activity log	fuel type; quantity; equipment; operation; field; date; allocation basis	supplier invoice plus equipment log or activity estimate; Raw aggregation and attribution: allocate shared operations by area, hours, or fuel record establishment_machinery_fuel_specific_input: Operation crop_establishment: Record fuel used for bed preparation, cultivation, seeding, or transplanting when field machinery crosses the foreground boundary. Original quantity method: Metered fuel or equipment fuel log allocated to the spinach bed. Identify the actual input for this operation from supplier specifications, equipment and primary records. This is a mandatory collection requirement, not an exchange. Before dataset completeness, represent each used material, formulated product, carrier or independently purchased service by one physically specific card with its native quantity/property; confirm a compatible UUID, or retain an explicit unresolved identity and do not claim a fully linked dataset. Do not substitute a conditional example for an unknown actual input, invent a recipe, omit required use or infer zero from missing records. Attribute shared use, reusable assets and inclusive services once; preserve the original stage/period and measured throughput link to final reference output. The former aggregate range is not a component limit or consumption default. crop_machinery_fuel_specific_input: Operation crop_management: Record fuel for cultivation, mechanical weed management, fertigation equipment, and other mobile machinery assigned to the crop cycle. Original quantity method: Fuel log or equipment activity estimate allocated to the spinach crop cycle. Identify the actual input for this operation from supplier specifications, equipment and primary records. This is a mandatory collection requirement, not an exchange. Before dataset completeness, represent each used material, formulated product, carrier or independently purchased service by one physically specific card with its native quantity/property; confirm a compatible UUID, or retain an explicit unresolved identity and do not claim a fully linked dataset. Do not substitute a conditional example for an unknown actual input, invent a recipe, omit required use or infer zero from missing records. Attribute shared use, reusable assets and inclusive services once; preserve the original stage/period and measured throughput link to final reference output. The former aggregate range is not a component limit or consumption default.	L, kg, or MJ	each refuelling or operation	full represented crop cycle	each spinach production unit	per declared reference flow	invoice, equipment log, and allocation calculation
cp_nutrient_records	crop_management	crop nutrients and nitrogen basis	nutrient plan, supplier invoice, and application log	product; nutrient concentration; application date; area; quantity; method	reconcile product records with field application records; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum nutrient mass by crop cycle and declared basis	kg product and kg nutrient	each application	full represented crop cycle	each spinach production unit	per declared reference flow	soil test, label or supplier specification, and application log
cp_crop_protection_records	crop_management	crop-protection products	spray or treatment log and supplier record	product; active ingredient; rate; area; date; target; equipment	record each application and product lot; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum by active ingredient and crop cycle crop_protection_input_specific_input: Operation crop_management: Record each crop-protection product by active ingredient or commercial formulation when it is applied to the spinach crop. Original quantity method: Supplier invoice, spray log, or application record by field and crop cycle. Identify the actual input for this operation from supplier specifications, equipment and primary records. This is a mandatory collection requirement, not an exchange. Before dataset completeness, represent each used material, formulated product, carrier or independently purchased service by one physically specific card with its native quantity/property; confirm a compatible UUID, or retain an explicit unresolved identity and do not claim a fully linked dataset. Do not substitute a conditional example for an unknown actual input, invent a recipe, omit required use or infer zero from missing records. Attribute shared use, reusable assets and inclusive services once; preserve the original stage/period and measured throughput link to final reference output. The former aggregate range is not a component limit or consumption default.	kg product or kg active ingredient	each application	full represented crop cycle	each spinach production unit	per declared reference flow	application log and product label
cp_field_records	crop_establishment	land occupation and area	field register or protected-unit register	area; unit; land use; crop dates; bed identifier; protection structure	verify area and dates against production register; Raw aggregation and attribution: calculate area-time and normalize to gate output	ha, m2, and days	each crop cycle	full represented crop cycle	each spinach field or protected unit	per declared reference flow	field map, register, and date evidence
cp_harvest_reconciliation	crop_management; harvest_and_gate_preparation	harvest, field residue, and field loss	harvest ticket, scale record, and field loss record	field; cut number; date; gross mass; marketable mass; residue; loss; destination	weigh each harvest or use documented lot reconciliation; Raw aggregation and attribution: reconcile gross harvest, marketable output, rejects, and residue	kg wet material	each cut or harvest lot	full represented harvest campaign	each spinach field or bed	per declared reference flow	scale record, lot ticket, and destination record
cp_postharvest_records	harvest_and_gate_preparation	wash water, electricity, rejects, and wastewater	pack-house batch and utility records	received mass; wash water; discharge; electricity; trim; batch; date; fate	batch record plus meter allocation; Raw aggregation and attribution: aggregate by batch and normalize to marketable packed output	kg, m3, and kWh	each batch or meter period	full represented harvest campaign	each preparation line or pack-house	per declared reference flow	meter record, batch sheet, and waste or treatment receipt
cp_postharvest_energy_records	harvest_and_gate_preparation	washing, cooling, and packing electricity	electricity meter and equipment throughput record	meter period; line; kWh; throughput; cooling duration; batch	meter allocation by throughput or run time; Raw aggregation and attribution: allocate shared electricity by throughput and reconcile to batch output	kWh	each meter period or batch	full represented harvest campaign	each in-scope preparation line	per declared reference flow	meter data and allocation calculation
cp_packaging_records	harvest_and_gate_preparation	primary packaging	packaging specification, bill of materials, and count record	material; unit mass; units; reuse status; batch; output mass	packaging count and specification reconciliation; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum virgin and reusable packaging separately per packed output primary_packaging_input_specific_input: Operation harvest_and_gate_preparation: Record bags, bands, crates, cartons, or other packaging that crosses the declared gate-preparation boundary with the spinach. Original quantity method: Packaging bill of materials and counted units reconciled to packed marketable output. Identify the actual input for this operation from supplier specifications, equipment and primary records. This is a mandatory collection requirement, not an exchange. Before dataset completeness, represent each used material, formulated product, carrier or independently purchased service by one physically specific card with its native quantity/property; confirm a compatible UUID, or retain an explicit unresolved identity and do not claim a fully linked dataset. Do not substitute a conditional example for an unknown actual input, invent a recipe, omit required use or infer zero from missing records. Attribute shared use, reusable assets and inclusive services once; preserve the original stage/period and measured throughput link to final reference output. The former aggregate range is not a component limit or consumption default.	kg material and units	each packaging lot or batch	full represented harvest campaign	each preparation line	per declared reference flow	supplier specification, count sheet, and reuse declaration
cp_gate_output_records	harvest_and_gate_preparation	marketable product and final rejects	dispatch scale, lot record, and reject record	lot; date; packed mass; unpacked mass; grade; reject; destination; gate	final scale and lot reconciliation; Raw aggregation and attribution: sum saleable output and reject streams; normalize to 1,000 kg	kg wet spinach	each dispatch lot	full represented harvest campaign	declared gate	per declared reference flow	certified scale or lot record and grade record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_nutrient_mass	fertilizer rows	product mass × declared nutrient fraction; retain the original product mass and nutrient basis	product invoice; nutrient concentration; application record	kg N, kg P2O5, or kg K2O by crop cycle	govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025
calc_crop_cycle_normalization	all crop-cycle inputs	crop-cycle quantity ÷ marketable fresh spinach mass × 1,000 kg	crop-cycle input; marketable output	normalized quantity per 1,000 kg output
calc_multi_cut_output	repeated harvest routes	sum marketable mass from all declared cuts in the campaign; reconcile gross mass and rejects before normalization	cut tickets; lot records; reject records	total crop-cycle marketable mass	psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025
calc_area_time	land occupation	production area × represented crop-cycle duration; disclose whether protected area is included	area register; crop dates	area-time quantity	govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025
calc_nitrogen_emission	direct soil nitrous oxide	apply the selected IPCC-compatible factor to eligible nitrogen input and declared soil or climate method; document factors in the dataset	nutrient records; method choice; crop-cycle area	kg N2O emitted to air	ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen
calc_gate_mass_balance	harvest and packing	received harvest = marketable output + rejects + residue or loss, with documented measurement uncertainty	harvest tickets; packing records; reject and residue records	reconciled mass balance	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard
field_residue_output_identity_and_fate	crop_management	Reconcile crop residue, harvest loss and biomass by measured wet/dry basis and actual fate. Retained or incorporated biomass is an internal residue ledger used to calculate supported decomposition and nutrient pathways, not a purchased resource or an invented elementary biomass exchange. Separately collected material requires its actual product/waste identity and destination; environmental releases require identified substances and receiving compartments. This replaces an ambiguous aggregate exchange, not the collection obligation. Before dataset completeness, create one concrete card per actual exchange, verify a compatible UUID or retain an explicit unresolved identity, and record quantity, unit, stage/period, destination and evidence. Reconstruct the raw attributable numerator from the linked protocol and normalize once to the matched accepted reference output. Missing data is not zero; no range of the former aggregate is an individual-stream default.	cp_harvest_reconciliation	Identity-specific exchanges and reconciled activity records	ucanr-spinach-production-2011
seed_or_transplant_input_identity_and_fate	crop_establishment	For the original seed_or_transplant_input collection role at this operation, identify the actual physical form, species/material, composition, state and supply/treatment boundary before creating exchanges. Each seed lot, transplant, crown, cutting, larval stage, formulation, coating, preservative or separated residue actually used/generated requires its own concrete card where relevant to this role; these examples are alternatives, not a required recipe. Retain existing collection records and route-specific source evidence. Count-based planting records require measured or supplier-supported mass-per-unit when matched to a mass-based provider; retain count and mass as linked attributes rather than two purchases. Do not merge separate husk/shell or separate agents. A real mixed stream requires composition and recipient evidence and is counted once. Before completeness, record every applicable amount and native unit, link a compatible verified UUID or explicitly unresolved identity, preserve stock/return attribution, and normalize the attributable raw quantity once to the accepted reference output. Missing records are not zero; aggregate ranges are not individual-input defaults. Retained source-specific collection screen: 10–17 kg seed/ha; basis: direct-seeded fresh-market spinach bed. Apply only to the matching concrete form, route and numerator unit, not to all alternatives or final normalized exchange.	cp_establishment_records	Identity-specific exchanges and reconciled activity records	govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025
chemical_species_mass_accounting	elementary_nutrient_emissions	Final elementary exchanges use the mass of the identified substance and one actual receiving compartment. Keep nutrient/activity ledgers separate: species-specific N2O-N × 44/28 gives N2O, NH3-N × 17/14 gives NH3, nitrate-N × 62/14 gives nitrate, and phosphate-P × 95/31 gives phosphate. If the selected flow is elemental phosphorus instead, report kg P and convert phosphate mass by 31/95 only when that species basis is evidenced. Apply a conversion exactly once only when the method output is on the elemental basis; measured compound mass is not reconverted. Total nutrient losses cannot be assigned to a single species without a supported split, and residual/retained soil nutrient is not an emission. Keep direct/indirect pathway ledgers and avoid repeating a pathway already included in the chosen method or upstream inventory. Factor uncertainty ranges screen factors on their stated basis, not final compound amounts or admissible site emissions. Normalize the attributable compound mass once using the accepted reference quantity and the matched measured output. Unknown activity, identity or compartment remains an evidence gap and blocks a completeness claim.	cp_nutrient_records; species-specific activity ledger, method pathway and factor basis, matched accepted output	Identity-specific exchanges and reconciled activity records

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
quality_identity	all flow and product records	Declare spinach form, cultivar group, crop route, gate, harvest cut, and product state; resolve platform identities during foreground dataset construction where required.	lot record, product description, and reference-flow qualifiers
quality_measurement	inputs and outputs	Prefer calibrated meters, scales, supplier invoices, and application logs; document estimation and allocation methods where direct measurement is unavailable.	meter calibration, scale record, invoice, or calculation sheet
quality_temporal	crop-cycle inventory	Cover the full represented crop cycle and harvest campaign, including all cuts and material applications.	sowing or transplant date, application log, harvest tickets, and dispatch records
quality_completeness	crop-cycle balance	Reconcile seed or transplant material, nutrient inputs, irrigation, harvest, marketable output, residue, reject, and wastewater streams.	crop-cycle mass and input reconciliation
quality_disclosure	dataset metadata	Disclose protected cultivation, irrigation source, nutrient basis, crop-protection products, washing, cooling, packaging, and residue destination.	dataset metadata and supporting records

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_output	reference flow	The declared reference output must be marketable fresh spinach at the declared gate and must use mass in kg; a frozen, canned, cooked, or retail product is outside this PCR.	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard
validate_crop_cycle_dates	crop establishment and management	Sowing or transplanting, applications, irrigation, harvest cuts, and gate output must fall within the declared crop cycle or be explicitly attributed to it.	govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025
validate_nutrient_basis	fertilizer inputs and emissions	Product mass, nutrient concentration, nutrient basis, and emission calculation method must be present and internally consistent; avoid counting both product mass and nutrient mass as the same exchange.	ucanr-spinach-production-2011; ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen
validate_mass_balance	harvest and gate preparation	Gross harvest and received mass must reconcile with marketable output, rejects, residues, and losses within the declared measurement uncertainty.	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard
validate_flow_identity_resolution	parameterized rows	Verify each actual exchange against its concrete flow UUID, physical state, property and unit; preserve explicit unresolved identities when confirmation is unavailable.
validate_qualifiers	reference flow and dataset metadata	Required qualifiers must be present in the dataset package, including crop form, cut, gate, washing, cooling, packaging, and production route.	usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard; psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	foreground agricultural production dataset for fresh spinach at farm-gate or pack-house gate
downstream_use	secondary_dataset for fresh-spinach product systems; background_dataset only when the provider explicitly publishes a representative regional or market-average dataset with the required metadata
allowed_use	Comparative product studies, crop-cycle inventory modelling, farm or pack-house improvement, and declared fresh-spinach supply-chain assessments within the stated geography and product state
excluded_use	Frozen, canned, cooked, dried, retail, consumption, seed-production, or unqualified leafy-vegetable substitution; do not extrapolate across protected and open-field routes without scenario disclosure
required_metadata	product form; cultivar group; crop route; geography; crop dates; cut number; gate; yield; irrigation source and quantity; nutrient basis; crop-protection program; washing and cooling; packaging; residue and reject fate
required_quality_disclosure	temporal coverage, site scope, measurement versus calculated values, allocation rules, mass-balance result, platform identity resolution status, and all provisional estimates requiring replacement by foreground records
update_trigger	change in crop route, irrigation method, nutrient program, harvest form, wash or cooling line, packaging format, gate definition, or evidence that changes material quantities or boundary rules

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
ucanr-spinach-production-2011	literature	University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Spinach Production in California, ANR Publication 7212 (2011), https://escholarship.org/content/qt67w2p91c/qt67w2p91c.pdf	production route, irrigation, nutrient application, crop management, and boundary context
govnl-spinach-production-guide-2025	official_guidance	Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Vegetable Crops Production Guide: Spinach, https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/agrifoods-plants-pdf-spinach.pdf	seeding, crop establishment, soil-test-based nutrient practice, and crop-cycle qualifiers
ufifas-leafy-vegetable-guide-2024	extension_guidance	University of Florida IFAS, Leafy Vegetable Production, https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/CV293?downloadOpen=true	seed-rate and harvest-period screening
fao-spinach-irrigation-schedule	official_guidance	FAO, Crop Water Management: Determination of the Irrigation Schedule for Crops Other Than Rice, https://www.fao.org/4/T7202E/t7202e06.htm	spinach irrigation scheduling context
usda-ams-bunched-spinach-standard	official_guidance	USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Bunched Spinach Grades and Standards, https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/bunched-spinach-grades-and-standards	product grade, freshness, trimming, defect, reject, and gate-quality qualifiers
psu-spinach-harvest-guidance-2025	extension_guidance	Penn State Extension, Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production: Spinach harvest and post-harvest considerations, https://extension.psu.edu/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/128944/	harvest form, repeated cutting, handling, cooling, and gate-preparation context
ipcc-2019-refinement-nitrogen	method_factor	IPCC, 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/2019-refinement-to-the-2006-ipcc-guidelines-for-national-greenhouse-gas-inventories/	managed-soil nitrogen-emission method and calculation rule
fao-fertilizer-identities	official_guidance	FAO Fertilizer Specifications, https://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/plantnutrition/fertspecs/en/	conditional concrete identities and method context; does not establish site use or quantities
fao-organic-nutrients	official_guidance	FAO How to Make and Use Compost, https://www.fao.org/4/i2230e/i2230e.pdf	conditional concrete identities and method context; does not establish site use or quantities
route-energy-fao	official_guidance	FAO, Energy-smart food for people and climate (2011), Annex 2; and Energy use in agriculture and industry, Annex IV. https://www.fao.org/4/i2454e/i2454e00.pdf ; https://www.fao.org/4/Q1085e/q1085e0d.htm	Equipment/carrier possibilities only; site records govern applicability. No intensity, fuel share or default recipe is adopted.