The Science of Climate Change

Chapter 4Role of Agricultural Practices on Climate Change

4.1 Introduction

Global hydrological cycle is integral to the climate system. Even though it has become customary to present climate change as a distinct crisis, the overall climate change pattern is inherently linked to water cycle. Water is the mother matter, in which embedded is all other matters (Islam, 2014). As such, water is ubiquitous and any activity that takes place sends out ripple effects of various degrees. The most important component of any agricultural activity is water. Indeed, the agricultural industry is the most dominant user of freshwater, such that any change in climate makes the most profound impact on water, which in turn affects both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture. Consequently, the livelihoods of rural communities and the food security of a predominantly urban population are at risk from water-related impacts linked primarily to climate variability. This phenomenon triggers a chain reaction leading to the recently identified phenomenon of environmental injustice. In this process, the rural poor, who are the most vulnerable, are likely to be disproportionately affected. Similarly, in a global scale the largest agriculture-based economies would be the most affected.

Environmental change and vegetation in turn are known to substantially affect the soil by altering organic matters. Solar radiation, topography and geology determine the major eco-environmental zones or biomes on earth (Begon et ...