MITIGATING AGRICULTURAL EMISSIONS OF METHANE

Agricultural crop and animal production systems are important sources and sinks for atmospheric methane (CH4). The major CH4 sources from th is sector are ruminant animals, flooded rice fields, animal waste and biomass burning which total about one third of ail global emissions. T his paper discusses the factors that influence CH4 production and emis sion from these sources and the aerobic soil sink for atmospheric CH4 and assesses the magnitude of each source. Potential methods of mitiga ting CH4 emissions from the major sources could lead to improved crop and animal productivity. The global impact of using the mitigation opt ions suggested could potentially decrease agricultural CH4 emissions b y about 30%.