AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION

This book covering the possible opportunity to mitigate green house gases emission through agricultural activities. Agricultural lands occupy 37 per cent of the earth's land surface. Globally, agriculture is responsible for 20 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions and releases to the atmosphere significant amounts of CO2, N2O and CH4. Carbon dioxide is released largely from land use changes, decomposition of soil organic matter and agriculture consumes fossil fuels during the manufacture of equipment, fertilizer and other chemical inputs. Methane is produced when organic materials decompose in oxygen-deprived conditions, notably from fermentative digestion by ruminant livestock, stored manures and rice grown under flooded conditions. Nitrous oxide is generated by the microbial transformation of nitrogen in soils and manures. Agricultural greenhouse gas fluxes are complex and heterogeneous, but the active management of agricultural systems offers possibilities for mitigation. Agricultural practices that promote good land stewardship appear to minimize or reduce GHG emission. Opportunities are exist in all segments of agriculture to reduce environmental impacts.