Effects of combined applications of straw with industrial and agricultural wastes on greenhouse gases emissions, temperature sensitivity, and rice yield in a subtropical paddy field

The incorporation of post-harvest crop straw and application of industrial and agricultural wastes to paddy soils increase rice crop yields and soil fertility. However, the impacts of combined applications of straw and waste products on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global warming potential (GWP) of paddy soils are unclear. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment in subtropical rice in China to test the effects of applications of straw, straw+biochar, straw+shell slag, straw+gypsum slag, straw+silicon, and straw+steel slag on rice yields, GWP, and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). The results showed that, compared to the control, cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from paddy soils were 15.2, 16.9, and 36.6 % lower following application of straw+steel slag, straw+silicon, and straw+gypsum, respectively, and cumulative emissions of methane (CH4) were 5.0 and 62.1 % lower following application of straw+steel slag and straw+gypsum, respectively. Meanwhile, relative to the addition of straw alone, application of straw+steel slag and straw+gypsum reduced GHG emissions largely due to reductions in CO2 emissions, further declining the GWP of CO2 and GHGI. In addition, temperature sensitivity (Q10) of CO2 emissions was highest following application of straw+silicon and lowest following application of straw+gypsum. There were no treatment effects on mean dissolved porewater concentrations of CO2, CH4, or nitrous oxide (N2O) and soil emissions of CO2 were negatively correlated with mean dissolved concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N2O. Rice yields were reduced following application of straw+gypsum and unaffected by the other treatments. Thus, relative to the addition of straw alone or control, we suggest the combined application of straw+steel slag may improve the sustain ability of paddy rice production, because it reduces GWP, while maintaining yields.

Automated summary

The incorporation of crop straw and industrial and agricultural wastes into paddy soils can increase rice crop yields and soil fertility. However, the combined application of straw and waste products on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global warming potential (GWP) of paddy soils is unclear. A field experiment in China tested the effects of different combinations of straw and waste products on rice yields, GHG emissions, and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). Results showed that certain combinations resulted in lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), reducing GWP. The application of straw+steel slag was suggested to improve the sustainability of paddy rice production, as it reduced GWP while maintaining yields.