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

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Q: 21 (IAS/2022)
Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide ?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,262,73,22,262,43,8

keywords: 

{'important anthropogenic source': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'methane': [0, 0, 0, 5], 'crops': [6, 1, 6, 7], 'wheat': [4, 1, 2, 2], 'sugarcane': [2, 2, 2, 7], 'rice': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'nitrous oxide': [2, 0, 3, 8], 'cotton': [2, 0, 0, 2]}

The question is asking for the crop that is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide. The options are cotton, rice, sugarcane, and wheat. Anthropogenic sources are those that are created or influenced by human activity.

Methane and nitrous oxide are both potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Methane is mainly produced through anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, such as in wetlands, rice paddies, and livestock manure. Nitrous oxide is mainly produced through microbial processes in agricultural soils, particularly when nitrogen fertilizers are applied.

Therefore, the crop that is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide is rice, option 2. Rice cultivation involves flooding fields, which creates anaerobic conditions that stimulate methane production by microbes. Additionally, rice paddies are a significant source of nitrous oxide emissions due to the use of nitrogen fertilizers and other agricultural practices.

Preparing for Future Exams: Learning from the Analysis of Past Questions

Topics: Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, Impact of rice cultivation on climate change, Methane and Nitrous Oxide emissions from rice paddies, Sustainable agriculture practices. Sources: IPCC reports, FAO reports, academic journals on agriculture and climate change. NCERT: Class 12 Biology, Chapter 16: Environmental Issues. Reference book chapters: "Climate Change and Agriculture" by H. Pathak and A. Singh, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Systems" by K. Paustian, L. Collins, and C. Delgado. Related concepts: Carbon footprint, Agriculture and sustainability, Climate-smart agriculture, Rice-fish farming.