**4. Mitigation**

There are differences in Global Warming Potential (GWP) and lifetime of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One GWP has been assigned to CO2 and the warming potential of other gases are based and expressed relative to CO2 GWP [23]. For instance, 1 tonne of CH4 has a warming effect of about 25 and 72 tons of CO2 over 100- and 20 year periods respectively according to IPCC. Studies have shown that CH4 is more potent than CO2, so reducing CH4 emission will show more immediate and significant impact on mitigating changes in climate than reducing CO2 emissions [24] Another potent greenhouse gas is N2O for it remains in the atmosphere for 114 years [25, 26]) and 298 times as potent as CO2 over 100 years [27] (see **Table 1** below).

Increased Industrial agriculture is proposed to be a solution to the problems of climate change which is a contributor without its impact being addressed. In the


**155**

*Impact of Emerging Agricultural Contaminants on Global Warming*

climate change mitigation and partly for carbon trading [17].

negotiation for a new climate treaty that has been negotiated to follow the Kyoto protocol in 2012, agricultural practices have been proposed to be a means for

Livestock farming in Agriculture is one of the largest sources of water contaminant and this contamination maybe the easiest route of emerging agricultural contamination in getting to humans and the eco-system. Animal dung production helps in releasing massive amount of Methane into the environment hence posing challenging situations as intensive farming serves in meeting global food challenges. Also, Algae and Fungi bloom intensifies methane release into the environment, thus having adverse effects on Green-house gases. To mitigate emerging contaminants

1.Development of good environmental policies to mitigate unwarranted release of emerging contaminants such as standards for water policy, improved testing on pollution and emission, assessments on environmental impact of farms and

2.Enhancing the intake of digestible forage will mitigate GHG emissions from rumen fermentation and stored manure (For example, to reduce enteric methane emission replace corn silage with grass silage in diet, apply dietary lipids, use legume over grass as it contains more fiber in addition to replacing

3.Release of pollutants at the source of production should be reduced because

4.Reduction of the application of fertilizers and pesticides and introduction of

5.Restoration of degraded pastureland by utilization of traditional approaches or

6.Methanotrophs otherwise known as the methane-eating bacteria found in the ecosystem where methane is produced ensures the conversion of methane into substances such as sugars before being released into the atmosphere. In this way, the methanotrophs help in recycling methane all over the globe.

7.Biochemical method of mitigation of Greenhouse gases: This is the employment of feed supplements that have the potential of reducing methane emission. The bulk of complex molecules contained in ruminant feeds are broken down during fermentation by microbes releasing energy and other chemical compounds [7]. Plant Natural Products (PNP) are engaged to aid in the challenges observed in livestock production where there is wastage of nutrient caused by excess excretion and poor or inefficient digestibility of feeds, emission of CO2 and CH4 that results to 2–12% loss of feed energy [29]. These PNPs include Saponins, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, alkaloids and essential oils These challenges brought the attention of Biochemists, Nutritionists and Microbiologists to look into the PNP application [30], yeasts [31] and enzymes as additives to feed. This incorporation as additives is meant to modify fermentation kinetics in ruminants and manipulate microbial ecosystems. The primary purpose of these modifications is to improve the utilization of animal feed and digestibility of fibrous feeds, decrease degradability of protein [32], inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract [33] enhance

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94170*

the following can be employed:

irrigation systems.

inorganic fertilizer) [28].

techniques.

of its easy entrance to vulnerable environment.

natural pest-control methods should be encouraged.

**Table 1.**

*Global Warming Potential (GWP) and lifetime of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.*

#### *Impact of Emerging Agricultural Contaminants on Global Warming DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94170*

*Emerging Contaminants*

N2O, CO2 and NH3 emissions.

duration [22].

**4. Mitigation**

[27] (see **Table 1** below).

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Livestock production sector as the major emitter of all the greenhouse gases is responsible for about 18% on one fifth of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions [18]. For instance, in almost every step of egg, meat and milk production in agriculture, greenhouse gases that cause climate change are released into the atmosphere disturbing temperature, weather and health of ecosystem. Mitigating these problems will require changes in

Livestock Production as one of the Agricultural food-based industries has been described as leading or major contributor of the anthropogenic source of CH4 and CO2 greenhouse gases [19]. They contribute immensely to global warming, pollution and environmental degradation because of the large amount of greenhouse gases produced during the ruminal fermentation of feeds. For instance, anytime a cow burps or passes out gas, it puffs out a little methane which wafts into the atmosphere. Each of these puffs from the cow put together can result to a big effect on climate because methane as a potent greenhouse gas is about 25 times more powerful in trapping heat and increasing earth's global warming than Carbon dioxide on equal mass basis. The livestock sector therefore accounts for about 18% of CH4 and 9% of CO2 of all the greenhouse gases emissions [20] hence methane accounts for 50–60% of emitted gases during livestock production [21]. A lot of proposals have been focused on soil and plant production for the reduction of emission from agriculture leaving livestock production which accounts for major amounts of CH4,

Several gases cause chemical reactions that can result in producing other greenhouse gases among other effects and some trap heat energy better than others. Considering the lifetime of greenhouse gases, some persist in the atmosphere for different durations of time and some contribute to global warming due to their long

There are differences in Global Warming Potential (GWP) and lifetime of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One GWP has been assigned to CO2 and the warming potential of other gases are based and expressed relative to CO2 GWP [23]. For instance, 1 tonne of CH4 has a warming effect of about 25 and 72 tons of CO2 over 100- and 20 year periods respectively according to IPCC. Studies have shown that CH4 is more potent than CO2, so reducing CH4 emission will show more immediate and significant impact on mitigating changes in climate than reducing CO2 emissions [24] Another potent greenhouse gas is N2O for it remains in the atmosphere for 114 years [25, 26]) and 298 times as potent as CO2 over 100 years

Increased Industrial agriculture is proposed to be a solution to the problems of climate change which is a contributor without its impact being addressed. In the

**GHG Atmospheric lifetime GWP GWP (100 years)**

CO2 Centuries to Millenia 1 1 CH4 About 10 years 72 25 N2O 114 years 289 298

*Global Warming Potential (GWP) and lifetime of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.*

agricultural practices and livestock consumption.

**154**

*Source: [27].*

**Table 1.**

negotiation for a new climate treaty that has been negotiated to follow the Kyoto protocol in 2012, agricultural practices have been proposed to be a means for climate change mitigation and partly for carbon trading [17].

Livestock farming in Agriculture is one of the largest sources of water contaminant and this contamination maybe the easiest route of emerging agricultural contamination in getting to humans and the eco-system. Animal dung production helps in releasing massive amount of Methane into the environment hence posing challenging situations as intensive farming serves in meeting global food challenges. Also, Algae and Fungi bloom intensifies methane release into the environment, thus having adverse effects on Green-house gases. To mitigate emerging contaminants the following can be employed:


performance of animals, reduce loss of dietary energy during fermentation in rumen and mitigate CH4 and CO2 productions. PNPs have been found to be natural and safer feed additives as they demonstrate vital role in mitigating methane and carbon dioxide productions without affecting fermentation in rumen during their production [6].
