Methane Emissions from Major Rice Ecosystems in Asia

Rice production is affected by changing climate conditions and has the dual role of contributing to global warming through emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. Climate change has been recognized as a major threat to the global environment. Because of insufficient field data, rice-growing countries face a problem when trying to comply with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change stipulations to compile a national inventory of emissions and to explore mitigation options.
Given the expected doubling in rice production in Asia, the need to evaluate the interaction between climate change and rice production is critical to forming a sound basis for future directions of technology developments by policy makers, agriculturists, environmentalists, rice producers, and rice consumers.
The present book comprises two sections. The first part documents a comprehensive overview of the results achieved from an interregional research effort to quantify methane emission from major rice ecosystems and to identify efficient mitigation options. This research report broadens understanding of the contribution of rice cultivation to methane emissions and clarifies that emissions are relatively low, except in specific rice ecosystems, and that these high emissions could be ameliorated without sacrificing yield.
The second section shows results from other projects that investigated the role of rice cultivators in field and laboratory approaches. The findings represent inputs for future modeling approaches in the role of rice cultivators. The expanded database generated by other projects is reflected in modeling efforts.

I: Results of the Interregional Program on Methane Emissions from Rice Fields.- 1. Characterization of methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. I. Comparison among field sites in five countries.- 2. Characterization of methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. II. Differences among irrigated, rainfed, and deepwater rice.- 3. Characterization of methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. III. Mitigation options and future research needs.- 4. Methane emission from irrigated and intensively managed rice fields in Central Luzon (Philippines).- 5. A four-year record of methane emissions from irrigated rice fields in the Beijing region of China.- 6. Methane emissions and mitigation options in irrigated rice fields in southeast China.- 7. Methane emissions from irrigated rice fields in northern India (New Delhi).- 8. Crop management affecting methane emissions from irrigated and rainfed rice in Central Java (Indonesia).- 9. Methane emission from rice fields at Cuttack. India.- 10. Mechanisms of crop management impact on methane emissions from rice fields in Los Baños, Philippines.- 11. Methane emission from deepwater rice fields in Thailand.- 12. Simultaneous records of methane and nitrous oxide emissions in rice-based cropping systems under rainfed conditions.- 13. Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. 1. Model development.- 14. Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. II. Model validation and sensitivity analysis.- 15. Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. III. Databases.- 16. Using a crop/soil simulation model and GIS techniques to assess methane emissions from rice fields in Asia. IV. Upscaling to national levels.- II: Selected Modeling Approaches,Field and Laboratory Experiments.- 17. Modeling rice plant-mediated methane emission.- 18. Modeling methane emissions from rice fields: variability, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis of processes involved.- 19. A process-based model for methane emissions from irrigated rice fields: experimental basis and assumptions.- 20. Modeling trace gas emissions from agricultural ecosystems.- 21. Simulation of methane production in anaerobic rice soils by a simple two-pool model.- 22. Combining upscaling and downscaling of methane emissions from rice fields: methodologies and preliminary results.- 23. Estimation of regional methane emission from rice fields using simple atmospheric diffusion model s.- 24. The effects of cultural practices on methane emission from rice fields.- 25. Varietal differences in methane emission from Korean rice cultivars.- 26. Influence of Azolla on CH4 emission from rice fields.- 27. Effect of land management in winter crop season on CH4 emission during the following flooded and rice-growing period.- 28. Effects of organic and N fertilizers on methane production potential in a Chinese rice soil and its microbiological aspect.- 29. Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on methane production and emission from submerged soil microcosm.- 30. Differences among rice cultivars in root exudation, methane oxidation, and populations of mcthanogenic and methanotrophic bacteria in relation to methane emission.- 31. Methane transport capacity of rice plants. I. Influence of methane concentration and growth stage analyzed with an automated measuring system.- 32. Methane transport capacity of rice plants. II. Variations among different rice cultivars and relationship with morphological characteristics.- 33. Methane production, oxidation, and emission from Indian rice soils.- 34. Influence of six nitrification inhibitors on methane production in a flooded alluvial soil.- Author index.