First records of a field experiment on fertilizer effects on methane emission from rice field in Hunan-Province (PR China)

Journal Article · Fri Oct 08 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL01915· OSTI ID:5485149

Wassmann, R; Papen, H; Rennenberg, H; Seiler, W ^[1]; Wang, M X; Shangguan, X J; Shen, R X; Wang, Y S ^[2]; Xie, X L ^[3]

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1. Fraunhofer-Institute, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
2. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Beijing (China)
3. Institute for Agricultural Modernization, Changsha (China)

This paper reports on a controlled experiment in Hunan province of the methane emissions from rice plots which were treated with similar fertilizers in terms of nutrient N, P, and K, but of different origin. The interest is in knowing if organic fertilizers are a much larger source of methane emissions from rice farming, than perhaps fermented organic fertilizers, or other sources. Anthropogenic sources of methane are a major, but poorly quantified contributor to the presence of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. This part of China is a major rice producer, but also is a major user of small family size fermenters to produce fuel for farmer's households. In this application the amount of leakage loss is small compared to the production rate of methane. The fermented residue is still commonly employed as a fertilizer. Results indicate that the treatments of biowastes in such fermenters could have a major impact upon methane emission rates in comparison to the use of untreated organic fertilizers.

• OSTI ID: 5485149
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:19; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AGRICULTURE
ALKANES
ASIA
CEREALS
CHINA
EMISSION
FERTILIZERS
GRAMINEAE
HYDROCARBONS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RICE