Methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the agricultural sector of Russia

Anthropogenic emissions of methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from livestock agriculture (enteric fermentation, animal waste management systems, and pasture manure) and plant growing of the Russia (CH 4 emissions from rice fields, direct and indirect N 2 O emissions from agricultural lands) are considered. In 2004, the total emissions of these greenhouse gases in the agricultural sector amounted to 1.4 × 10 5 thousand t CO 2 -equivalent, which corresponds to 45% of the 1990 level (3.1 × 10 5 thousand t CO 2 -equivalent). In 2004, the contribution of N 2 O to the total agricultural emissions was approximately twice (67.0%) that of CH 4 (33.0%). Direct N 2 O emissions from agricultural soils (0.5 × 10 5 thousand t CO 2 -equivalent) and CH 4 emissions from the internal fermentation of domestic animals (0.4 × 10 5 thousand t CO 2 -equivalent) are the most significant sources in the agricultural sector of the Russian Federation. In 2004, all these agricultural sources emitting methane and nitrous oxide contributed about 7% CO 2 -equivalent to the total emission of the anthropogenic greenhouse gases in Russia.