What type of emissions are notably high in California commercial farming?

The emissions that are notably high in California commercial farming are primarily nitrous oxide. This greenhouse gas is a significant byproduct of agricultural practices, particularly due to the extensive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. When these fertilizers are applied to crops, a portion of the nitrogen they contain is transformed by soil bacteria into nitrous oxide, which is released into the atmosphere.

Commercial farming in California, given its scale and the types of crops grown, often relies heavily on these fertilizers to maximize yield. Additionally, practices such as tillage can also contribute to increased nitrous oxide emissions, as disturbed soils can release even more nitrogen oxides.

While carbon dioxide emissions do occur within the agricultural sector, they are more closely associated with fossil fuel use for machinery and transportation than with the farming processes themselves. Methane emissions, although significant in some agricultural contexts—particularly in livestock production—are not the primary emissions from crop farming. Ozone is a secondary pollutant that forms in the atmosphere under certain conditions and is not primarily emitted directly from farming activities.

Thus, in the context of California’s commercial farming landscape, nitrous oxide is the most notably high emission, largely driven by the state's reliance on nitrogen fertilizers.