Advances in research of greenhouse gasses emission reduction by agricultural irrigation engineering

Abstract

Emissions of N2O and partial CO2, CH4 among the greenhouse gases (GHGs) are mainly from agricultural production and show reciprocal relationships that change with tillage patterns of upland crops. For example, water-saving irrigation in paddy fields reduces CH4 but increases N2O. Accordingly, the application of biotechnology to regulating community structure of rhizosphere microorganisms to obtain satisfactory interaction patterns between rice and microorganisms is the orientation of future researches. In order to ensure the security and stability of water supply under the background of climate change, a reliable design should be introduced into the demonstration of irrigation water. The combination of reasonable allocation of the water resource and GHGs reduction should be addressed. This requires not only expansion of rice planting areas but also improved utilization models of field water management, water–fertilizer coupling, and effcient resource selection. The government should formulate preferential policies to further environmental compensation by encouraging voluntary abandonment of some economic benefits and reduced GHGs emissions, based on the contribution rates to total GHGs emission of N2O, CO2 and CH4 derived from agricultural activities and irrigation. An optimized model and decision support system that considers crop planting, integration of water and fertilizer, and compensation for reducing greenhouse gases should be developed to guide irrigation management.