Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogen

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide ?

Cotton
Rice
Sugarcane
Wheat
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2022
Among the given options, rice cultivation is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide.
– Rice paddies, when flooded, create anaerobic conditions in the soil, which are ideal for methanogenic bacteria to produce methane (CH4). Rice cultivation is a significant global source of anthropogenic methane emissions.
– Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture primarily come from the application of nitrogen fertilizers and the management of manure, which stimulates nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in the soil. Rice cultivation often involves significant nitrogen fertilization.
– While other crops like cotton, sugarcane, and wheat contribute to N2O emissions (due to fertilization), they are not major sources of methane from the cultivation process itself, unlike flooded rice paddies.
Globally, agriculture is a major contributor to both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Enteric fermentation in livestock is another dominant source of methane, while synthetic fertilizers are a leading source of N2O. Rice cultivation uniquely combines significant emissions of both gases due to the specific conditions of paddy fields and fertilization practices.