Question

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 fertilisers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• A. Only 1
• B. Only 2
• C. Both 1 and 2
• D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Both 1 and 2

Flooded paddy fields contribute a lot to the emission of methane, a major greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. The anaerobic conditions associated with flooding of rice fields are responsible for this.

Nitrogen based fertilizers cause the microbes present in the soil to convert nitrogen into nitrous oxide which is a major greenhouse gas.