Assessing Seasonal Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Furrow-Irrigated Rice with Cover Crops

Improved irrigation management is identified as a potential mitigation option for methane (CH4) emissions from rice (Oryza sativa). Furrow-irrigated rice (FR), an alternative method to grow rice, is increasingly adopted in the Mid-South U.S. However, FR may provide a potential risk to yield performance and higher emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). This study quantified the grain yields, CH4 and N2O emissions from three different water management practices in rice: multiple-inlet rice irrigation (MIRI), FR, and FR with cereal rye (Secale cereale) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) as preceding winter cover crops (FRCC). CH4 and N2O fluxes were measured from May to September 2019 using a static chamber technique. Grain yield from FR (11.8 Mg ha(-1)) and MIRI (12.0 Mg ha(-1)) was similar, and significantly higher than FRCC (8.5 Mg ha(-1)). FR and FRCC drastically reduced CH 4 emissions compared to MIRI. Total seasonal CH4 emissions decreased in the order of 44 > 11 > 3 kg CH4-C ha(-1) from MIRI, FR, and FRCC, respectively. Cumulative seasonal N2O emissions were low from MIRI (0.1 kg N2O-N ha(-1)) but significantly higher from FR (4.4 kg N2O-N ha(-1)) and FRCC (3.0 kg N2O-N ha(-1)). However, there was no net difference in global warming potential among FR, FRCC and MIRI. These results suggest that the increased N2O flux from furrow-irrigated rice may not greatly detract from the potential benefits that furrow-irrigation offers rice producers.

Automated summary

Improved irrigation management, such as furrow-irrigated rice (FR), shows potential to reduce methane emissions but may increase nitrous oxide emissions. While FR and FRCC significantly reduced CH4 emissions, they also increased N2O emissions compared to MIRI. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in the overall global warming potential among FR, FRCC, and MIRI.