Role of soil processes in global cumate change – A review

The world's soils, cultivated as well as unmanaged, are important sources of greenhouse gases and trace gas species such as CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and NO₂ that cause global climate change. Based on current knowledge, about 25% of the global annual emissions of CO₂, half the global annual emissions of CH₄ and N₂O, and 30% of the global annual emissions of nitrous oxide and NH₃ are believed to originate from soils. Soils are also potential sinks for the greenhouse gases, and if managed effectively, can play a significant role in averting climate change. This paper looks at the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in soils of world as well as India, and discusses measures for reducing the production of these gases, and for enhancing their capacity as sinks of greenhouse gases.