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E. M. Koriesh and I. H. Abo-Soud
2.2 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O)
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is an important GHG that contributes to climate change. It has
a long atmospheric lifetime (100 years) and is about 300 times better at trapping
heat than is CO 2 , even small quantities of N 2 O affect the climate. Nitrous oxide is
produced by microbes in soils. N 2 O is emitted mainly from fertilized soils and animal
wastes. Of the three major GHG emitted naturally—CO 2 , N 2 O and CH 4 ; N 2 O is the
most important. Better management of N fertilizer can reduce N 2 O emissions [20].
Gardeners can help lessen the global warming pollution associated with waste
disposal by turning leaves, grass, woody garden clippings, dead garden plants, and
kitchen waste into mulch or compost, then using it in the garden. “Recycling” these
wastes will not only reduce methane emissions from landfills but also improve your
garden’s soil and help it store carbon [21]. Compost, which can be any mixture of
decaying organic materials (for example, plant leaves, animal manure, food scraps),
is created organisms that break down wastes into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
While composting does produce global warming gases, studies indicate that the best
practices for creating and using compost have a smaller climate impact than landfills [22]. Climate-friendly gardeners may also choose to reduce their own personal
greenhouse gas emissions by growing and using carminative plants such as fennel
and garlic (can reduce intestinal gases such as methane [23]. Also, reduction in livestock product consumption on arable land use (which is a critical component of
the link with deforestation) will depend on how consumers compensate for lower
intakes of meat, eggs and dairy products. A switch from beef and milk to highly
refined livestock product analogues such as tofu actually increase the quantity of
arable land needed. A broad-based switch to plant-based products through simply
increasing the intake of cereals and vegetables is more sustainable. We estimate that
a 50% reduction in livestock production consumption would release about 1.6 Mha
of arable land [24].
2.3 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) and It’s Importance
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is an important greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change
[25]. Because it has a long atmospheric lifetime (over 100 years) and is about 300
times better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, even small emissions of N 2 O affect
the climate. Nitrous oxide is produced by microbes in almost all soils. In agriculture,
N 2 O is emitted mainly from fertilized soils and animal wastes—wherever nitrogen
(N) is readily available. In the United States, agriculture accounts for approximately
8% of all greenhouse gas emissions but contributes about 75% of all N 2 O emissions
linked to human activity. Of the three major greenhouse gases emitted naturally—
carbon dioxide, methane, and N 2 O—N 2 O is the most important. Better management
of N fertilizer can reduce N 2 O Emissions Natural part of the nitrogen cycle, but
human activities add more [26].
E. M. Koriesh and I. H. Abo-Soud
2.2 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O)
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is an important GHG that contributes to climate change. It has
a long atmospheric lifetime (100 years) and is about 300 times better at trapping
heat than is CO 2 , even small quantities of N 2 O affect the climate. Nitrous oxide is
produced by microbes in soils. N 2 O is emitted mainly from fertilized soils and animal
wastes. Of the three major GHG emitted naturally—CO 2 , N 2 O and CH 4 ; N 2 O is the
most important. Better management of N fertilizer can reduce N 2 O emissions [20].
Gardeners can help lessen the global warming pollution associated with waste
disposal by turning leaves, grass, woody garden clippings, dead garden plants, and
kitchen waste into mulch or compost, then using it in the garden. “Recycling” these
wastes will not only reduce methane emissions from landfills but also improve your
garden’s soil and help it store carbon [21]. Compost, which can be any mixture of
decaying organic materials (for example, plant leaves, animal manure, food scraps),
is created organisms that break down wastes into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
While composting does produce global warming gases, studies indicate that the best
practices for creating and using compost have a smaller climate impact than landfills [22]. Climate-friendly gardeners may also choose to reduce their own personal
greenhouse gas emissions by growing and using carminative plants such as fennel
and garlic (can reduce intestinal gases such as methane [23]. Also, reduction in livestock product consumption on arable land use (which is a critical component of
the link with deforestation) will depend on how consumers compensate for lower
intakes of meat, eggs and dairy products. A switch from beef and milk to highly
refined livestock product analogues such as tofu actually increase the quantity of
arable land needed. A broad-based switch to plant-based products through simply
increasing the intake of cereals and vegetables is more sustainable. We estimate that
a 50% reduction in livestock production consumption would release about 1.6 Mha
of arable land [24].
2.3 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) and It’s Importance
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is an important greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change
[25]. Because it has a long atmospheric lifetime (over 100 years) and is about 300
times better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, even small emissions of N 2 O affect
the climate. Nitrous oxide is produced by microbes in almost all soils. In agriculture,
N 2 O is emitted mainly from fertilized soils and animal wastes—wherever nitrogen
(N) is readily available. In the United States, agriculture accounts for approximately
8% of all greenhouse gas emissions but contributes about 75% of all N 2 O emissions
linked to human activity. Of the three major greenhouse gases emitted naturally—
carbon dioxide, methane, and N 2 O—N 2 O is the most important. Better management
of N fertilizer can reduce N 2 O Emissions Natural part of the nitrogen cycle, but
human activities add more [26].