Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable?
- 1.The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane.
- 2.When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: A. 1 only
Rice paddies, when flooded, create anaerobic environments where organic matter decomposition produces significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, the application of nitrogen-based fertilizers to agricultural soils, including rice fields, leads to nitrification and denitrification processes, which release nitrous oxide, another powerful greenhouse gas. Both processes are well-established contributors to global warming associated with rice cultivation.
Source: UPSC gs1 2010