AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 2 Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Paddy fields are significant players in the global methane emissions landscape primarily due to the anaerobic conditions created in flooded fields during rice cultivation. When fields are submerged in water, the soil becomes oxygen-poor, leading to a process known as anaerobic decomposition. This process is carried out by microbes in the absence of oxygen and results in the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The microbial activity breaks down organic matter present in the soil, producing methane as a byproduct that is then released into the atmosphere. As rice cultivation relies heavily on such flooded conditions, it is one of the notable sources of methane emissions globally, particularly in regions where rice is a staple crop.