Greenhouse Gases from Agriculture

Abstract The rapidly changing global climate due to increased emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) is leading to an increased occurrence of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. The three major GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). The major natural sources of CO 2 include ocean–atmosphere exchange, respiration of animals, soils (microbial respiration) and plants, and volcanic eruption; while the anthropogenic sources include burning of fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and oil), deforestation, and the cultivation of land that increases the decomposition of soil organic matter and crop and animal residues. Natural sources of CH 4 emission include wetlands, termite activities, and oceans. Paddy fields used…