EFFECTS OF INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON EMISSION OF GREENHOUSE GASES

Poor quality diets of ruminant farm animals in developing countries lead to relatively large emissions of methane (a gas implicated in global climate change) per unit of useful animal product. Production of high quality feed requires intensive agronomic practices that result in increased emission of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which also contribute to global climate change. Focusing on India, we estimate that improved diets could reduce by one-third greenhouse gas production (expressed as CO2 equivalents) per kg of milk. On the other hand, replacement of bullocks with tractors is projected to result in a greater than two-fold increase in CO2 equivalents.