Effects of Agriculture on Climate Change

Generally, agriculture is defined as the scientific cultivation of animals, plants, and other resources to produce food and other goods necessary to sustain the increasing world population. Nonetheless, the expansion of this production line also impacts the climate system as a whole, making it a two-edged sword in the struggle for sustainability (Balogh, 2020). Agriculture is inextricably linked to climate change since it is responsible for the emission of various GHGs and contributes to deforestation and other land-use changes (Outhwaite et al., 2022). The agricultural industry contributes significantly to total anthropogenic GHG emissions, where CH4 emissions from livestock, N2O from fertilized soils, and CO2 emissions from deforestation and soil degradation are the common factors (Panchasara et al., 2021). Moreover, these farming practices alter how water is recycled in ecosystems and cause deforestation, resulting in species loss. Therefore, there is a desperate need to address the environmental impacts of agriculture and to embed sustainable strategies and policies to enhance the long-term positive impacts of agriculture. Hence, agriculture is severely contributing to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases, deforestation, and land use changes; this calls for adopting sustainable use and policies to reduce the impact of agriculture and its related adverse environmental effects in the long run.

Agricultural Practices Contributing to Climate Change

Deforestation for Agriculture

Clearing forests refers to removing a large expanse of trees within a short period, accomplished for different reasons, including, for instance, making way for farming and having several negative impacts on the environment. As it is well known, forests are capable of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it (Bogužas et al., 2022). Whenever such forests are cut, not only is this vital carbon-cycling process halted, but the carbon stored in trees is returned to the atmosphere, where it contributes to the greenhouse effect (Balogh, 2020). Also, deforestation contributes to habitat loss and reduces biological diversity, as many species end up homeless (Outhwaite et al ., 2022). It also leads to the loss of water cycles since forests are continuously important to hydrological cycles that control rainfall and water flow.

Intensive Livestock Farming

Intensive livestock farming is another significant human activity that plays a major role in climate change. Some of the major sources of methane include enteric fermentation that happens in ruminant animals like cows. Two of the significant greenhouse gases involve methane, which has an even more significant global warming potential than CO2 (Kristiansen et al., 2021). Additionally, manure from intensive livestock systems emits substantial amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas (Kristiansen et al., 2021; Lynch et al., 2021). It also requires large quantities of water to provide livestock sustenance, which leads to deforestation in pastures. Similarly, pollution from waste produced by these animals is another threat to the environment, such as the pollution of water wells.

Monoculture Farming

As the term implies, monoculture farming entails growing a single crop on a large scale with several environmental impacts, as discussed below. It weakens the nutrient content of the soil, hence the deterioration of the soil substrate and higher susceptibility to pests and diseases (Bogužas et al., 2022). This leads to increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, damaging the environment. According to Outhwaite et al. (2022), monoculture has a negative impact, and this is because it leads to the loss of plant species and other organisms that are essential in the ecosystem, and the improvement of the agricultural system as a result of climate variability.

Tillage Practices

Usual ploughing practices or conventional tillage expose a great deal of soil organic carbon stock to get oxidized and emit CO2 into the atmosphere. This brings soil erosion, which is another negative impact of tillage since it deteriorates soil fertility and affects soil microbes that are crucial in maintaining the status of the soil (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). Besides, tilling also reduces water infiltration and accelerates soil structure, worsening the drought condition and increasing overall activity.

Use of Synthetic Fertilizers

Applying synthetic fertilizers in agriculture contributes to nitrous oxide emissions since fertilizers contain nitrate. These fertilizers can also pollute water through water course overwrites, which leads to water-dead zones that support no life as they get polluted by eutrophication (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). Moreover, using inorganic fertilizers involves energy consumption in preparing synthetic fertilizers, enhancing CO2 emissions (Panchasara et al., 2021). Another harmful impact is lowering PH levels in the soil from using fertilizers, which negatively affects crop yields in the long run.

Paddy Rice Cultivation

The main form of rice cultivation contributes to the emission of methane owing to the reduced conditions of floodwater, which facilitates microbial decomposition of organic matter. This cultivation method also requires an abundant water supply and water sources in this process, which may be problematic for some areas (Hussain et al. , 2020). This affirms that there are chances of water sources being threatened by issues associated with the growing of rice, especially paddy.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

It is a practice that is widely practiced in the tropics, and it takes a direct and indirect toll on the natural environment. This leads to the release of large amounts of emissions as CO2 and other gases, which are referred to as greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere (Panchasara et al., 2021). This also leads to deforestation, loss of vegetation cover, land degradation, and potential for frequent and repetitive wildfire occurrences. This led to the development of slash-and-burn agriculture, which resulted in low yields on the ground and cannot therefore be advocated for long-term farming.

Overuse of Water Resources

The use of water in agriculture, especially to irrigate crops, has dire impacts on the environment. It reduces the rates of replenishing groundwater and surface water reserves, which are crucial to the sustenance of ecology and human uses (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). Advancements in technology and the use of electricity for irrigation, powered by fossil fuels, imply a rise in CO2 emissions (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). In addition, the high salinity level in the growing region due to over-irrigation negatively impacts soil fertility, which is a significant setback in the continuous growth of the agriculture sector.

Sustainable Solutions for Mitigating Agricultural Impact on Climate Change

Agroforestry

There are several environmental benefits associated with the practice of agroforestry, which involves the combination of trees and shrubs into agricultural systems. In the same way that it helps in carbon sequestration, it also assists in reducing climate change. Other benefits derived from agroforestry systems include the availability of shelter and food for many species, control of soil erosion, and an increase in water-holding capacity (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). Besides, they are economical sources of income for farmers through timber, fruit production, and other non-timber products, thus contributing to economic diversification.

Conservation Tillage

Conservation tillage seeks to minimize the soil turned over through no-tillage or minimum tillage. Consequently, it refers to the conservation or even enhancement in the framework of the soil, the storage of carbon on the earth’s surface, and the reduction of the risks of the erosion of the ground (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). Therefore, enhancing the soil's status and its ability to retain water conservation tillage enhances sustainable farming practices (Lynch et al., 2021). It also benefits the soil in other ways, such as enhancing the life of the microorganisms, which is central to the cycling of nutrients and crop production.

Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is an advanced method of farming that focuses on specific management strategies for fields using GPS, sensors, and data collection. This approach assists in cutting the amounts of water, fertilizers, and pesticides that are used by applying them where they are most needed (Garnett et al., 2013). Thus, increased crop yields and reduced emissions to the atmosphere contribute to the efficiency of farming and the general utilization of resources (Hussain et al., 2020). It also assists farmers in using resources optimally, which in a way also contributes to sustainability.

Crop Diversification and Rotations

Diversification and rotations involve crop admixture, a process of growing crops in cycles based on the prevailing seasonality. This practice assists in increasing the soil quality by changing the supply of nutrients in the soil and discontinuing the pest and disease life cycles because they are interfered with (Bhattacharyya et al., 2022). It also helps reduce climate change by creating a less reliant and diverse agricultural industry (Bogužas et al., 2022). Besides, crop diversification also increases crop productivity and benefits the ground ecosystem by providing additional resources for other crops and reducing chemical usage.

Policy Interventions

There have to be rules that, no matter how arbitrary they are to farmers, will have an incentive to decrease the impact of their agriculture on climate change. National governments can facilitate the process of farmers’ transition to sustainable agricultural practices by supporting it financially and educationally, via subsidies, Research & Development funds, and offering extension services (Lynch et al. , 2021). Policies that aim at preventing the destructive practices in increasing while at the same time fostering ecological and innovative agricultural practices promote sustainable farming practices (Garnett et al. , 2013). These policy measures can build towards sustained long-term improvements in agriculture and its relation to the environment, thus a better progressive future for agriculture.

Conclusion

This project focuses on the fact that agriculture is a significant driver of climate change through its current practices that emit greenhouse gases, reduce forest areas, and change land use methods. These are some of the effects that result from these practices, making it essential to embrace the right and sustainable mode of farming. Today, agriculture is one of the most detrimental human environmental activities. If proper measures like agroforestry, conservation tillage, precision agriculture, crop diversification, and the necessary policies are put in place, the impacts of agriculture on the environment will be reduced. To this end, if adopted, sustainable practices such as those integrated into farms can help the farmers establish long-lasting farm structures while contributing to the fight against biodiversity and Climate change.