of the world may be the fallout of this. The sea level has risen by 10–20 cm with
regional variations (IPCC 2001). Similarly, snow cover is also believed to be
gradually decreasing.
2.1 Agriculture Soils
Agricultural soils are a source of N 2 O, mainly due to application of nitrogenous
fertilizers in the soils. Burning of crop residue leads to the emission of a number of
gases and pollutants. Amongst them, CO 2 is considered to be C neutral, and
therefore not included in the estimations. Only CH 4 and N 2 O are considered for this
report. The total CO 2 eq. emitted from these two sources were 50.00 million tonnes.
Nitrous Oxide is produced naturally in soils through the processes of nitrification
and denitrification. Nitrification is the aerobic microbial oxidation of ammonium to
nitrate, and denitrification is the anaerobic microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrogen
gas (N 2 ). Nitrous oxide is a gaseous intermediate in the reaction sequence of
denitrification and a by-product of nitrification that leaks from microbial cells into
the soil and ultimately into the atmosphere. One of the main controlling factors in
this reaction is the availability of inorganic nitrogen (N) in the soil. This methodology, therefore, estimates N 2 O emissions using human-induced net N additions to
soils (e.g. synthetic or organic fertilizers, deposited manure, crop residues and
sewage sludge), or of mineralization of N in soil organic matter following
drainage/management of organic soils, or cultivation/land-use change on mineral
soils (e.g. forest land/grassland/settlements converted to cropland).
2.2 Burning of Crop Residue
Crop residue is burnt in the fields in many Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and
Karnataka producing CO, CH 4 , N 2 O, NO x , NMHCs, SO 2 and many other gases. In
this report only the CH 4 and N 2 O emissions have been reported.
2.3 Methane Emission from Rice Fields
Methanogenesis, the process responsible for methane formation, occurs in all
anaerobic environments in which organic matter undergoes decomposition. Rice is
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P.S. Swain et al.
regional variations (IPCC 2001). Similarly, snow cover is also believed to be
gradually decreasing.
2.1 Agriculture Soils
Agricultural soils are a source of N 2 O, mainly due to application of nitrogenous
fertilizers in the soils. Burning of crop residue leads to the emission of a number of
gases and pollutants. Amongst them, CO 2 is considered to be C neutral, and
therefore not included in the estimations. Only CH 4 and N 2 O are considered for this
report. The total CO 2 eq. emitted from these two sources were 50.00 million tonnes.
Nitrous Oxide is produced naturally in soils through the processes of nitrification
and denitrification. Nitrification is the aerobic microbial oxidation of ammonium to
nitrate, and denitrification is the anaerobic microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrogen
gas (N 2 ). Nitrous oxide is a gaseous intermediate in the reaction sequence of
denitrification and a by-product of nitrification that leaks from microbial cells into
the soil and ultimately into the atmosphere. One of the main controlling factors in
this reaction is the availability of inorganic nitrogen (N) in the soil. This methodology, therefore, estimates N 2 O emissions using human-induced net N additions to
soils (e.g. synthetic or organic fertilizers, deposited manure, crop residues and
sewage sludge), or of mineralization of N in soil organic matter following
drainage/management of organic soils, or cultivation/land-use change on mineral
soils (e.g. forest land/grassland/settlements converted to cropland).
2.2 Burning of Crop Residue
Crop residue is burnt in the fields in many Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and
Karnataka producing CO, CH 4 , N 2 O, NO x , NMHCs, SO 2 and many other gases. In
this report only the CH 4 and N 2 O emissions have been reported.
2.3 Methane Emission from Rice Fields
Methanogenesis, the process responsible for methane formation, occurs in all
anaerobic environments in which organic matter undergoes decomposition. Rice is
86
P.S. Swain et al.