Abstract
Flooded rice cultivation fields appear to be the major source of methane emission. In Benin Republic, flooded rice is cultivated in the Niger River and Ouémé River Basins. The present study aims to assess the contribution of flooded rice cultivation systems to methane emissions in the lower Ouémé Valley. Methane emission calculation was based on Activity Data which is the flooded rice harvested surface area from 2008 to 2017. The Tier 2 methodology of the IPCC 2006 Guidelines’ and the complements of the “Refinement 2019” have been used to elaborate the specific emission factors for the lower valley of Ouémé and to estimate the emission of methane in this zone. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with producers in order to elaborate on their perceptions of gas emissions in the flooded rice fields. The EX-ACT tool was used to estimate the carbon footprint of the intensive rice cultivation system “SRI” and the conventional rice cultivation system “SRC”. It is shown that producers have a strong perception of gas emissions in rice fields but are totally unaware of the nature of the gas. Methane emitted in the lower valley of the Ouémé is around 528 tons/year between 2008 and 2017 while the carbon footprint resulting from the results of EX-ACT for the adoption of the SRI rises to the level of sequestration of approximately 0.4 tCH4/ha/year. The intensive rice cultivation system has been identified as the production system that minimizes methane emissions and maximizes rice production.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the IPCC 2018 report, if nothing is done to limit the anthropogenic activities responsible for this temperature rise, it will reach 1.5 ̊C between 2030 and 2052 [1] (IPCC, 2018)
The present study aims to assess the contribution of flooded rice cultivation systems to methane emissions in the lower Ouémé Valley
Methane emitted in the lower valley of the Ouémé is around 528 tons/year between 2008 and 2017 while the carbon footprint resulting from the results of EX-ACT for the adoption of the SRI rises to the level of sequestration of approximately 0.4 tCH4/ha/year
Summary
According to the IPCC 2018 report, if nothing is done to limit the anthropogenic activities responsible for this temperature rise, it will reach 1.5 ̊C between 2030 and 2052 [1] (IPCC, 2018). Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone and fluorinated gases (HFCs), PFC, SF6) have been considered as the main greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. They are not exclusively considered harmful to the planet because their total absence in the atmosphere would freeze the planet earth at −18 ̊C [2]
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