Hybrid rice produces a higher yield and emits less methane

Abstract

Hybrid rice has a higher yield potential than inbred rice, but the difference in CH<sub>4</sub> emissions between the two groups is still unclear, particularly regarding straw incorporation. In the present study, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the difference in CH<sub>4</sub> emissions between inbred (Huanghuazhan) (IR) and hybrid (Rongyouhuazhan) (HR) rice cultivars, both with or without straw incorporation in subtropical China. The results showed that HR produced both greater grain yield and biomass than IR. In contrast, when compared with IR, HR reduced the cumulative CH<sub>4</sub> emissions by an average of 18.6%. No significant interactions between rice cultivars and straw management on yield or CH<sub>4</sub> emissions were found. HR significantly increased the abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs by 38.9% and 93.4% relative to IR, respectively, thereby reducing CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in the soil pore water. Therefore, we suggest that cultivar rice can produce a higher yield and better mitigate CH<sub>4</sub> emissions when compared to inbred rice, regardless of the use of straw incorporation.