Researchers suggest that agriculture can lead to an unprecedented rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide. In the summer, growing plants inhale carbon dioxide but exhale the gas when decomposition sets in, also leading to an increase in CO2 emissions.

The last 50 years saw CO2 emissions climb by as much as half due to seasonal swings in agriculture. Agricultural production could be responsible for the increase in seasonal carbon cycles by as much as a quarter, according to new research.

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Lead author Mark Friedl from the Boston University said rising CO2 emissions are more prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere where there is a strong seasonal vegetation cycle. He said something's drastically changing in the cycle, however. Ecosystems that are more lush and productive are sucking in more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing much of it during a dormant period.

Researchers believe these results are caused by humans and can be directly attributed to their agricultural activities. Scientists reveal that even if crops haven't changed, the amount of CO2 they emit could double in about 50 years

During the 1960s, the Northern Hemisphere saw a 240 percent increase in agricultural production from crops such as corn, wheat, rice and soybeans.

Study co-author Chris Kucharik from the University of Wisconsin-Madison says this is solid evidence humans have the ability to greatly influence the composition of the planet's atmosphere.

Cropland is still a pivotal factor that causes an increase of 50 percent in seasonal CO2 cycling, where corn is the major crop.

Cropland areas have been stable and didn't increase dramatically over the years but the amount of agricultural production significantly intensified and led to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, concludes Friedl.

This study was published in the journal, Nature.

TagsCarbon Dioxide Increase in Atmosphere Also Caused by Farming, US, CO2 emissions, carbon dioxide in atmosphere, carbon dioxide increase atmosphere farming crops agriculture, global warming