The Issue of Agriculture and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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(Newswire.net — April 16, 2019) — Today, farmers are facing great pressure because of climate change. They believe that because of this phenomenon, the profitable and productivity might decrease. Also, they think that agriculture is one of the significant contributors to climate change.

Farmers are now making their move to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. This is because according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, it is estimated that the worldwide GHG from agriculture continue to increase, especially in the developing countries.

In agriculture, where there is an involvement of large commercial operations, a considerable amount of chemical fertilizers is needed.  To solve the issue, many farmers are now using several sustainable agricultural methods so that they can boost their productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Here, you have the opportunity to important ideas about agriculture and greenhouse gas emission that can help become more aware of the current scenario.

GREENHOUSE GASES

Greenhouse gases are those gases found in the atmosphere that can warm the Earth surface and capture solar radiation. Without these gases, the Earth’s surface will be minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit when compared to the current temperature, which is 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

When there is an increase in greenhouse gases concentration, this can warm the Earth’s surface. As a result, changes in the climatic conditions are expected.

The greenhouse gases concentrations are affected by agricultural activities, including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide.

  • Carbon dioxide is considered to be the most popular greenhouse gas because it is known to be the most prevalent. It makes up more than 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions related to different human activities.
  • Carbon dioxide is primarily associated with the burning of fossil fuels.
  • Nitrous oxide and methane can capture more heat when compared to carbon dioxide.
  • Both nitrous oxide and methane have values of 298 and 25, respectively. Meaning, nitrous oxide exerts 298 times the effect on warming the Earth’s surface while methane can contribute 25 times the impact on global warming as a similar amount of carbon dioxide.

When it comes to the primary sources of greenhouse gases, there are 5 economic end-user sectors, including industrial, residential, transportation, agriculture, and commercial.

AGRICULTURAL GHG EMISSION

Agriculture can contribute to greenhouse gas through soil and crop management, livestock manure management, and enteric fermentation in the domestic livestock. Thus, GHG emissions that are associated with the use and production of electricity might occur with each of the activities.

In 2016, it was estimated that agriculture has directly released about 612 MMT of CO2e. When emissions related to electricity are distributed to various economic sectors, agriculture has released an additional 39 MMT, with a total of 651 MMT.

If this kind of scenarios continues to happen, there is a big chance that Earth can be less sustainable and comfortable for human beings. From the production of food to unpredictable climatic conditions, there is a significant impact on human life.

So, if you want to get involved with gardening but you do not want to get affected by climate change, you can consider building a greenhouse. To start with, you can try Halls Greenhouses and discover the advantages of greenhouses.