Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?
- ACotton
- BRiceCorrect
- CSugarcane
- DWheat
Explanation
Among the given crops, rice (paddy) cultivation is the most significant anthropogenic (human-induced) source of both methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Methane is produced primarily due to anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the continuously flooded conditions of paddy fields. The oxygen-deficient environment in waterlogged soils promotes the activity of methanogenic bacteria. Nitrous oxide emissions from rice fields occur due to the nitrification and denitrification processes in the soil, influenced by fertilizer application and alternating wet and dry conditions. While other agricultural activities contribute to these greenhouse gases, rice cultivation stands out as a major contributor to both.
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