An agricultural emission of methane is the greatest source (45 %) of methane
emissions, out of which approximately two-thirds come from enteric fermentation
and one third from livestock manure (Moss et al. 2000). Enteric methane accounts
for about 75 % of the total on-farm methane emissions (EPA 2010). The domestic
livestock produces about 80 Tg enteric methane per year and 25 Tg methane per
year is produced from their manure (Cynoweth 1996). India’s contribution is
around and per year, which corresponds to 14 % (11 Tg/year) and 4.5 % (1 Tg/year)
of the global methane influx, respectively. But, methane production per head of
livestock (methane emission factor) is much lower than the very high producing
ones of America and Europe. So, the above index might not be alarming if we
consider the quantum of livestock population in India. But, India often is blamed
for higher emission of methane per unit of livestock production even though the
methane emission factor is lesser than the other countries. This may be due to our
socioeconomic compulsions to maintain a large population of unproductive or low
productive animals.
6 Effects of Global Warming
Global warming is the process of increasing in the Earth’s atmospheric temperature
due to many anthropogenic and GHG. The effect of this global warming is well felt
in the past few decades as the routine cyclicity of the seasonal variation is not proper.
According to FAO (2007) if global average temperature increases by 1.5–2.5 °C,
approximately 20–30 % of plant and animal species are expected to be at the risk of
extinction. The heat in summer and the cold in winter also not same like a decade
before. The summery of climate change can be briefed as follows:
1. Increase in Earth’s temperature, i.e. increase in number of hot days and hot
nights and heat waves during the last fifty years and there are less frequent cold
days, cold nights and frost.
2. For the next two decades a warming of about 0.2 °C per decade is projected by
International Panel on climate change.
3. The ice on the mountains and polar region melts leading to rise in global sea
level. Global average sea level rose by 1.0 mm per year over 1961–2003.
4. There is change in the seasonal variation. That is why it is termed as climate
change.
5. Changes in ecosystem due to altered temperature and rainfall which affects the
quality and quantity of vegetation, fruit, cereal grain, aromatic and medicinal
plants.
6. Insects and pathogens are highly susceptible to the atmospheric temperature and
humidity. So, this also gives rise to many new diseases and thus affecting plants,
animals and human beings.
7. The propionate enhancers should be used in the ration that will decrease A:P
ration and in turn reduces methane.
92
P.S. Swain et al.
emissions, out of which approximately two-thirds come from enteric fermentation
and one third from livestock manure (Moss et al. 2000). Enteric methane accounts
for about 75 % of the total on-farm methane emissions (EPA 2010). The domestic
livestock produces about 80 Tg enteric methane per year and 25 Tg methane per
year is produced from their manure (Cynoweth 1996). India’s contribution is
around and per year, which corresponds to 14 % (11 Tg/year) and 4.5 % (1 Tg/year)
of the global methane influx, respectively. But, methane production per head of
livestock (methane emission factor) is much lower than the very high producing
ones of America and Europe. So, the above index might not be alarming if we
consider the quantum of livestock population in India. But, India often is blamed
for higher emission of methane per unit of livestock production even though the
methane emission factor is lesser than the other countries. This may be due to our
socioeconomic compulsions to maintain a large population of unproductive or low
productive animals.
6 Effects of Global Warming
Global warming is the process of increasing in the Earth’s atmospheric temperature
due to many anthropogenic and GHG. The effect of this global warming is well felt
in the past few decades as the routine cyclicity of the seasonal variation is not proper.
According to FAO (2007) if global average temperature increases by 1.5–2.5 °C,
approximately 20–30 % of plant and animal species are expected to be at the risk of
extinction. The heat in summer and the cold in winter also not same like a decade
before. The summery of climate change can be briefed as follows:
1. Increase in Earth’s temperature, i.e. increase in number of hot days and hot
nights and heat waves during the last fifty years and there are less frequent cold
days, cold nights and frost.
2. For the next two decades a warming of about 0.2 °C per decade is projected by
International Panel on climate change.
3. The ice on the mountains and polar region melts leading to rise in global sea
level. Global average sea level rose by 1.0 mm per year over 1961–2003.
4. There is change in the seasonal variation. That is why it is termed as climate
change.
5. Changes in ecosystem due to altered temperature and rainfall which affects the
quality and quantity of vegetation, fruit, cereal grain, aromatic and medicinal
plants.
6. Insects and pathogens are highly susceptible to the atmospheric temperature and
humidity. So, this also gives rise to many new diseases and thus affecting plants,
animals and human beings.
7. The propionate enhancers should be used in the ration that will decrease A:P
ration and in turn reduces methane.
92
P.S. Swain et al.