Question

Major source of methane in India is:
A: Rice fields
B: Sugarcane plantation
C: Wheat fields
D: Fruit Orchards

Answer 1

Hint: Increasing methane emissions are a major contributor to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, accounting for up to a third of near-term global warming. In wetland soils, methane is created as the final step in the anaerobic breakdown of organic matter. Methane is formed solely by methanogenic bacteria, which can only metabolise in the absence of free oxygen. Methane emissions can be reduced by capturing and using the gas, which has both environmental and economic benefits.

Complete answer:
Option A:
Paddy or rice cultivation is practised throughout India in various regions and seasons. Paddy cultivation is supported by the availability of monsoon rains and irrigation facilities. After the bacteria have respired aerobically, the paddy cultivation takes place in a waterlogged environment, which favours the release of methane. As a result, the rice fields are primarily responsible for the country's methane emissions.
Hence, option A is correct.
 Option B:
Sugarcane cultivation necessitates a tropical or subtropical climate with a minimum annual moisture of $$60cm$$$$\left(24in\right)$$. In the plant kingdom, it is one of the most powerful photosynthesizers. It's a $$C4$$ plant, capable of converting up to $$1\mathrm{\%}$$ of solar energy into biomass. Sugarcane plantation doesn't require water-logged conditions so it is not involved in the methane production.
So, option B is incorrect.
Option C:
Wheat production necessitates a temperate climate with moderate rainfall. The optimum temperature for the production of this crop in the winter is $$10$$ to $$15$$ degrees Celsius. It is not involved in methane production because it does not entail waterlogged conditions.
So, option C is incorrect.
Option D:
The majority of them are cultivated in areas with a temperate climate. $$C{O}_2$$ emissions can be mitigated by planting fruit-bearing trees. $$C{O}_2$$ is needed for the survival of trees, including fruit trees. Trees act as an air cleaner or filter, removing $$C{O}_2$$ and releasing fresh oxygen back into the atmosphere. They do not require wetland soils, so there is no methane gas production.
So, option D is incorrect.

Hence, Option A is the correct answer.

Note:
Rice fields in India are a significant source of methane due to the presence of consistently water-logged soils. Water-logged soils, in combination with a warm environment, lead to the production of methane gas, which is then released into the atmosphere through methanogenesis. Methane is created in rice paddies by microscopic organisms that breathe $$C{O}_2$$, similar to how humans breathe oxygen. More $$C{O}_2$$ in the atmosphere causes rice plants to grow faster, and this extra plant growth provides more energy to soil microorganisms, speeding up their metabolism.
Additional Knowledge:
The decomposition of fertilisers and crop residues in flooded rice cultivation is a significant source of methane emissions. Preventing rice fields from being submerged and cultivating upland rice or other upland crops will be the most efficient way to minimise these emissions. In flooded rice cultivation, the decomposition of fertilisers and crop residues is a major source of methane emissions. The most effective way to reduce these emissions is to prevent rice fields from being flooded and to cultivate upland rice or other upland crops.