Incorporation of rice straw mitigates CH4 and N2O emissions in water saving paddy fields of Central Vietnam

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the effects of rice straw and water regimes on CH4 and N2O emissions from paddy fields for two rice growing seasons (summer 2014 and spring 2015). Water regimes included alternating wet–dry irrigation (AWD) maintained at three levels (–5 cm, – 10 cm and –15 cm) in comparison to continuous flooding irrigation (CF). Rice straw (5 t ha–1) was incorporated into the top soil (0 – 15 cm), distributed and burned in situ. Results showed that using burned in situ rice straw was found to reduce seasonal cumulative CH4 emission (24–34% in summer; 18–28% in spring), N2O emission (21–32% in summer; 22–29% in spring) and lower rice yield (8–9%) than rice straw incorporation into top soil. AWD methods reduced the amount of CH4 production (22.6–41.5%) and increased N2O emission (25–26%) without any decrease in rice yield. Rice straw incorporation into the top soil with AWD had higher water productivity (23–37%) than rice straw when burned in situ with CF. The results conclude that AWD and rice straw management can be employed as mitigation strategy for CH4 and N2O emissions from paddy fields in Central Vietnam.