Carbon Budget of Paddy Fields after Implementing Water-Saving Irrigation in Northeast China

Abstract

Water-saving irrigation is recognized as an effective agricultural management due to water security and environmental protection problems. In Northeast China, an increasing number of paddy fields are shifting from conventional irrigation to water-saving irrigation. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the carbon (C) budget of paddy fields after implementing water-saving irrigation in Northeast China. A 2-year consecutive field study was performed from 2018 to 2019 using three different irrigation regimes (conventional irrigation (FI), controlled irrigation (CI), and intermittent irrigation (II)) and two nitrogen (N) fertilization levels (110 and 165 kg N ha−1) in a paddy field of Northeast China. The present study aimed to quantify the net ecosystem C budget (NECB) and net global warming potential (net GWP) after the implementation of water-saving irrigation in Northeast China. Both CI and II enhanced the C sequestration capacity of this paddy field. The net primary productivity (NPP) under CI and II was higher than FI by 18–38% and 11–33%, respectively, when the same N fertilization level was applied. The NECB ranged from 1151 to 2663 kg C ha−1, indicating that all treatments acted as net C sinks. II increased the NECB through increasing NPP, which exceeded increased removal of harvest and C mineralized losses. Under II, the NECB was significantly higher than FI and CI when the same N fertilization level was applied (p < 0.05). The net GWP under II and CI was significantly lower than FI (p < 0.05). The net GWP under II was lower than CI when the N fertilization level was 165 kg N ha−1, but no significant differences were detected. These results demonstrated that the II with 165 kg N ha−1 of paddy fields strongly decreased net GWP in Northeast China to combat global climate change.