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

Both statements are correct. Flooded rice paddies create anaerobic soil conditions that favor methanogenic bacteria, producing methane through anaerobic decomposition of organic matter; rice cultivation is a significant source of agricultural methane emissions [1]. Separately, adding nitrogen to soils via synthetic fertilizers (or manure) leads to microbial processes (nitrification/denitrification) that emit nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas associated with agricultural fertilizer use [2]. Thus regions with extensive rice cultivation that also use nitrogen fertilizers can contribute to both CH4 and N2O emissions, enhancing their climate impact [2].

Sources

1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > 2. greenhouse gases > p. 11
2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257