Methane emission from irrigated rice ecosystem: relationship with carbon fixation,partitioning and soil carbon storage

Rice is a major agricultural crop and accounts for 40 % of the total food grain production of India. A field experiment was conducted for two successive seasons (December–June, 2012–13 and December–June, 2013–14) to assess the efficiency of rice varieties for methane (CH₄) emission in relation to atmospheric carbon fixation, partitioning of carbon, and storage in the soil. Six high yielding rice varieties, Bahadur, Cauvery, Dinanath, Joymoti, Kanaklata, and Swarnabh were grown under irrigated condition. Results of the present investigation depicted differences in photosynthetic rate among the varieties accompanied by differential ability for plant biomass partitioning between the shoots and the roots. Stomatal frequency of flag leaf at panicle initiation stage was found to have strong influence on photosynthesis. Low CH₄-emitting rice varieties, Bahadur and Dinanath, were found to have lower size of the xylem vessels than the high CH₄-emitting rice varieties, Joymoti and Kanaklata, and found to influence the CH₄ flux. Soil organic carbon storage of 0.505 Mg C ha^?1 y^?1 in the plough layer of soil (0–15 cm) confirmed that irrigated rice ecosystem is an effective sink of carbon. These findings suggest that selection of suitable rice varieties with higher photosynthetic efficiency and lower emission of CH₄ can be a suitable biological mitigation of this greenhouse gas. Although an inverse relationship of CH₄ with carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux was observed, irrigated rice ecosystem has a good potential to store substantial amount of carbon in the soil.     

Effect of slope on surface drainage in converted rice paddy

Due to the recent regulation of rice production in Japan, it has become necessary to convert rice paddy to other field crops production. To achieve this, drainage conditions, especially for surface drainage, must be improved. We propose the introduction of a slight slope to improve surface drainage, but the optimal slope must be determined in order to prevent soil erosion caused by excessive slope, as well as increased cost. In Japan, a 0.1% slope has recently come into widespread use and, therefore, the impact on surface drainage must be quantified. In this report, observations were carried out to quantify the impact of a 0.1% slope for converted rice paddy and the following results were obtained: (1) An approximate 0.1% slope enables improvement of 46% of the soil surface saturation area as compared to flat conditions about 10 h after inundation; and (2) Inundated water remains on a flat field, while it moves downward toward the end on a sloped field. These results give a basis for determining a slope on a rice paddy in terms of surface drainage improvement. However, the optimal slope should be decided from various perspectives including engineering, agronomy, and economics etc.     

A preliminary investigation for Cu distribution in paddy soil and rice plants in contaminated paddy fields

Paddy and Water Environment - The soil sample of a paddy field was found to be contaminated by copper (Cu). The application of wastewater as the nitrogen fertilizer was identified as the cause in...     

稻田排水晒田对土壤饱和含水量的影响和在机械作业上的应用

水稻田间作业的主要机械 ,如收割机、插秧机等均要求稻田土壤有一定的硬度才能正常行走作业。而稻田土壤硬度与其含水量密切相关 ,含水量越低 ,硬度越高。降低稻田饱和含水量 (土壤全部孔隙为水份充满时的含水量 ) ,可使稻田含水量在排水后较快地降至适应机械作业的水平。有利水稻机械及时下田作业 ,争取农时。本试验的目的在于研究稻田的排水晒田措施对其饱和含水量的影响 ,为稻作生产机械化提供相应的农艺管理措施。1　研究方法试验在福建省农科院稻麦所农场进行 ,试验地土壤质地为壤土 ,将试验地按正常耕作要求用拖拉机耕耙平整 ,沉实一…     

Mitigating net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity by intermittent irrigation under straw incorporation in Chinese double-rice cropping systems

Paddy and Water Environment - To clarify the effect of water management on global warming potential and crop yield with rice straw returning in typical double-rice cropping systems, a field...     

Nitrogen loss and its health risk in paddy fields under different drainage managements

Subsurface drainage is a prerequisite for year-round crop production in a large area of northern Iran^, s paddy fields. Minimizing environmental and health issues related to nitrogen (N) losses through subsurface drainage systems provides suitable condition for sustainable agriculture in these fields. A field study was conducted to evaluate nitrogen loss and its health risk in the conventional and subsurface-drained paddy fields. Ammonium, nitrate, and total N concentrations of subsurface drainage effluents, surface runoff, and leachates were monitored during three successive rice-canola-rice growing seasons from July 2011 to August 2012. Different components of N balance and health risk of nitrate leaching to groundwater were also investigated. Ammonium in drainage effluents collected during the experimental period ranged from approximately zero to 1.72 mg L^?1, while nitrate fluctuated from 0.5 to 28.6 mg L^?1. Average nitrate concentration in leachates of subsurface-drained area was 7.7–81.4 % higher than that in subsurface drainage effluents, while it was 126.8 % higher than that in surface runoff for the conventional field. Subsurface drainage provided a better utilization of soil N through providing winter cropping and reduced the potential for non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate leaching to groundwater. The results are encouraging for producers engaged in rice-canola production in the study area with respect to the environment and human health quality.     

Spatial variability of bulk soil electrical conductivity in a Malaysian paddy field: key to soil management

On-the-go EC sensor is a useful tool in mapping the apparent soil electrical conductivity (EC_a) to identify areas of contrasting soil properties. In non-saline soils, EC_a is a substitute measurement for soil texture. It is directly related to both water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity (CEC), which are key ingredients of productivity. This sensor measures the EC_a across a field quickly and gives detailed soil features (1-s interval) with few operators. Hence, a dense sampling is possible and therefore a high resolution EC_a map can be produced. This paper presents experiences in acquiring detailed EC_a information that is correlated to other soil properties for precision farming of rice. The study was conducted on a 9 ha rice plot in MARDI Seberang Prai Station, Penang. The VerisEC3100 was pulled across the field in a series of parallel transects spaced about 15 m apart. The study showed that shallow and deep EC_a had high correlation and shallow EC_a had significant correlation to P. Deep EC_a had significant correlation to P, K and yield. Regression equations showed that N and P could be estimated by shallow EC_a but, pH, K and yield were better estimated by deep EC_a. This study was able to draw some basic ideas of nutrient zone management according to precision farming technique.     

Nitrogen transformation and carbon sequestration in wetland paddy field of Bangladesh

Paddy and Water Environment - Rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh have received little consideration of changing nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in soil. Therefore, this study was conducted at...     

Storing and removing nitrogen in drainage from paddy field by using aquatic crops wetland

Paddy and Water Environment - Aquatic crop (Zizania latifolia Stapf–Ipomoea aquatica Forsk) wetlands were constructed to remove nitrogen (N) in drainage from paddy rice fields, with three...     

Rice yield and soil carbon dynamics over three years of applying rice husk charcoal to an Andosol paddy field

Rice husk charcoal (RC) produced from the pyrolysis of rice husk (RH) can be one of the cost-effective biochars for use in rice-based farming systems. This study investigated changes in rice yield and soil carbon sequestration over three years of RC application to an Andosol paddy field. The treatments were RC application at 0.02, 0.2, and 2 kg m^?2 (RC0.02, RC0.2, and RC2, respectively), RH application at 0.2 kg m^?2 (RH0.2), and a control with no RC or RH application (CONT). The results showed that RC2 increased culm length by 4% and straw weight by 14% on average over the three years. These increases in plant growth coincided with a higher level of silicon uptake by the rice plants, although they did not significantly affect grain yield. The soil carbon content was progressively increased by RC2 over the three years, whereas it was not significantly affected by RC0.02 or RC0.2. A considerable amount (>72%) of the applied carbon with RC2 remained in the soil by taking account of its downward movement below the 10 cm layer of the paddy field after three consecutive years of RC application. We conclude that rice husk charcoal application to Andosol paddy fields is an effective option for increasing carbon sequestration. Furthermore, the increase in silicon uptake by rice plants suggests that rice husk charcoal can also be functioning as a silicon fertilizer.     

Nitrogen transport and transformation in packed soil columns from paddy fields

Our understanding of nitrogen transformation in paddy fields or wetlands is limited due to the complex interactions between soil, water, and biomass. Therefore, we studied transformation patterns resulting from the oxic level in the soil, and studied saturated (anoxic) and unsaturated (oxic) flow conditions. We present a model designed to predict concentrations of nitrate and ammonium at several soil depths resulting from the processes of nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification. Model equations were obtained that describe NO₃-N and NH₄-N concentrations in terms of position, rate constant, and average flow velocity. Although many parameters were included in the model equations, some were determined from the literature and others were derived from experiments. A sensitivity analysis of the rate coefficients for NO₃-N and NH₄-N revealed that they are extremely sensitive to denitrification and ammonification respectively. Experimental results show that there were large differences in the transformations of NO₃-N and NH₄-N, the water pressure distributions, and the oxygen reduction potentials (ORP) between saturated and unsaturated pore water flow conditions. The performance of the model for sequential transformations during the transport of NO₃-N is well documented under both saturated and unsaturated flow conditions.     

Effect of controlled irrigation and drainage on nitrogen leaching losses from paddy fields

The effect of controlled irrigation and drainage on N leaching losses from paddy fields was investigated by controlling root zone soil water content and water table depth using a lysimeter equipped with an automatic water table control system. Three treatments that combined irrigation and drainage managements were implemented: controlled irrigation (CI) + controlled water table depth 1 (CWT1), CI + controlled water table depth 2 (CWT2), and flooding irrigation (FI) + actual field water table depth (FWT). Controlled irrigation and drainage had significant environmental effects on the reduction of NH₄ ⁺–N and NO₃ ^?–N leaching losses from paddy fields by decreasing water leakage. The NH₄ ⁺–N leaching losses from CI + CWT1 and CI + CWT2 were 3.68 and 4.45 kg ha^?1, respectively, which significantly reduced by 59.2 and 50.7 % compared with FI + FWT (9.02 kg ha^?1). The NO₃ ^?–N leaching losses from CI + CWT1 and CI + CWT2 were 0.88 and 0.43 kg ha^?1 with a significant reduction of 45.2 and 73.2 %, respectively, compared with FI + FWT (1.61 kg ha^?1). The application of CI + CWT1 can be a pollution-controlled water management method of reducing N leaching losses from paddy fields.     

炉渣对调节稻田土壤pH和盐度的有效性分析

对炉渣调节稻田土壤pH和盐度的有效性进行研究。结果表明,稻田土壤pH和盐度随着炉渣施用量的提高而增大,并表现为炉渣施用后显著提高了稻田土壤的pH（P〈0.01）,但对盐度的影响不显著（P〉0.05）,不同土壤层次之间pH和盐度的差异性随着施用量的提高而减小。     

Irrigation of paddy soil with industrial landfill leachate: impacts in rice productivity,plant nutrition,and chemical characteristics of soil

Treated industrial effluents have high levels of nutrients and dissolved organic matter. The irrigation of rice by flooding can increase nutrient uptake and grain yield. Therefore, this study evaluated the nutrient contents in the shoots and grain of the rice crop and also the chemical of the soil after irrigation of the crop with leachate of the treated industrial effluent. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using pots filled with 20 kg of soil in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of control (irrigation with distilled water) and four concentrations of the leachate (25, 50, 75, and 100 %) for irrigation. At the end of the experiment, the nutrient contents in tissues of rice plants, sterility of spikelets, and grain mass were evaluated. Results showed that irrigation with the leachate at 25 % content increased the macro- and micronutrients’ concentrations in the shoot biomass and grain, except for potassium and iron. Irrigation with the industrial leachate decreased tillering and grain yield; however, it increased chlorophyll content, sterility of spikelets, and sodium intake at this leachate concentration. The potassium and sodium levels and the electrical conductivity values of soils irrigated with treated industrial leachate were increased. The use of the treated leachate from industrial effluents is an alternative that reuses the nutritional load, but the volume of leachate should be limited and monitored to prevent the sodicity in the soil and problemsdue to eutrophication.     

Experimental study on soil erosion characteristics in flooded terraced paddy fields

This experimental study assesses the effects of event rainfall on soil erosion characteristics in terraced rice paddy fields. A 0.75-ha terraced paddy field located in Northern Taiwan was used to investigate the soil erosion under the regular cultivation of rice during two crop seasons. The environmental changes were investigated in the neighboring areas in which terraced paddy fields have been converted to other land usages. The annual rate of soil erosion calculated from the observed rainfall runoff and suspended solid contained was 0.77 ton/ha, which is significantly less than the erosion rate associated with upland crop cultivation reported by other research conducted in Taiwan. Experimental results also showed that the terraced paddy field retained the highest percentages of clay, silt, and organic matter's content, as compared to those of other upland crops, indicating that the topsoil was less susceptible to rainfall erosion under flooded conditions of rice-cultivation. The results of this study show that the rice-planted terraced paddy offers the highest level of soil conservation. The function of soil and water conservation in terraced paddy fields could be further increased by effective maintenance of embankment and to raise the height of the bund. Poor management, abandoned cultivation, and converse to other upland crops of terraced paddy fields are regarded as major contributors to increased soil erosion in mountainous areas. The government in Taiwan should formulate effective measures and maintain sustainable rice cultivation in the terraced paddies.     

Variance of microbial composition and structure and relation with soil properties in rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil of a flooded paddy

Paddy and Water Environment - Soil microbial structure and nutrient properties varied with fertilization and plant growth simultaneously in the rhizosphere. However, the relationships between...     

水稻土施用不同氮、硫水平对油菜产量的影响

浙东平原水稻土油菜田间试验施用不同氮、硫水平的结果显示：（1）油菜籽产量随氮肥用量的增大而增加，施N（50－200kg/hm^)不施硫肥条件下，增产幅度为2．0％－11．8％，施N和施S（30kg/hm^2)条件下，增产幅度为2．4％－12．7％。（2）不同施氮水平下，施硫增产油菜籽5．4％－6．9％。（3）油菜氮吸收量随施氮量的增加而呈增加趋势，低氮水平下施用硫肥促进油菜氮吸收量加大。（4）不同施氮水平的产投比为1．5－4．3，施用硫肥的产投比达5．2－6．7，氮硫配施可提高施用氮肥的产投比。