CH4 emissions from rice fields and reduction countermeasures in the Three Gorges Reservoir area

Abstract

The global warming is mainly caused by the rapid rise of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. To reverse the trend, the world resorts to the low-carbon economy. The agricultural ecosystem, the largest artificial ecosystem ever seen in the world, is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emission, establishing the close relation between the agriculture-related activities and global warming. The thesis studies the Three Gorges Reservoir areas and estimates the paddy rice field CH4 emission quantity in the areas. It estimates that in 2008 the paddy rice field CH4 emission quantity stood at between 55,000 and 65,000 tons. The thesis also proposes measures to reduce the emission, including the protective farming, change of traditional farming models, rational and accurate fertilizing, reform of the paddy rice field management techniques, management of time and space differences in the paddy rice field, developing the mountainous composite eco-agriculture and sectors with local features.