Korean Journal of Soil Science and FertilizerISSN:0367-6315(Print) 2288-2162(Online)한국토양비료학회

Paddy fields are considered one of the most important sources of anthropogenic methane (CH₄) emissions. Drainage of the flooded soils can reduce CH₄ substantially, but rice yields can be variable depending on soil drainage. Therefore, to reduce this variability, water management effects on CH₄ emissions and rice yields were comprehensively analyzed in paddy fields of countries similar to Korea. Here, we selected 161 observations of water management and 174 observations of rice yields from 28 articles and conducted a regional-scale meta-analysis of the effects of water management practices on CH₄ emissions and rice yields in paddy fields. As a result of the analysis, we found that water management practices in East Asian paddy fields reduced methane by 60.5%. Water management practices in paddy fields decreased rice yield by 5.8% but there was no significant. The water management practices of the paddy fields with a high CH₄ emission reduction effect and no impact on rice yields were alternating wet and dry (AWD), flooding-drainage-reflooding (FDF), and moist irrigation (MI) practices. Therefore, it is considered that the above three practices can be applied in Korea. The results of this study are expected to predict CH₄ emissions and rice yields generated by water management practices in East Asian rice paddies in the future and be used as basic data for the development of national unique coefficients.

A response ratio of CH₄ emissions (A) and rice yields (B) by water management types.