Methane Emission from Fields with Three Various Rice Straw Treatments in Taiwan Paddy Soils

Abstract

Flooded rice fields are one of the major biogenic methane sources. In this study, the effects of straw residual treatments on methane emission from paddy fields were discussed. The experimental field was located at Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station in Chia‐Yi county (23°25′08″N, 120°16′26″E) of southern Taiwan throughout the first and the second crop seasons in 2000. The seasonal methane fluxes in the first crop season with rice stubble removed, rice straw burned and rice straw incorporated were 4.41, 3.78 and 5.27 g CH₄ m^− 2, and the values were 32.8, 38.9 and 75.1 g CH₄ m^− 2 in the second crop season, respectively. In comparison of three management methods of rice straw residue, the incorporation of rice straw residue should show a significant tendency for enhancing methane emission in the second crop season. Moreover, stubble removed and straw burned treatments significantly reduced CH₄ emissions by 28 ∼ 56% emissions compared to straw incorporated plot. Concerning for air quality had led to legislation restricting rice straw burning, removing of rice stubble might be an appropriate methane mitigation strategy in Taiwan paddy soils.

Keywords:

• Methane
• Paddy
• Straw incorporated
• Stubble removed
• Straw burned

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financial support (NSC87‐2621‐P‐067F‐001 and NSC88‐EPA‐Z‐067F‐001).