Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy through submergence tolerance in rice

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify rice cultivars which have capacity to survive in submergence condition and result low CH4 emissions. The study was conducted at research station of Indonesian Agricultural Environment Research Institute (IAERI) during 2 seasons consecutively. Six rice varieties were used during rainy season (RS) 2015/2016 and 12 rice varieties during dry season (DS) 2016. During flash flooding, rice plants were 10 days submerged for 90 cm from the soil surface. The flash flooding was conducted during vegetative phase of the plant. Result showed that some varieties could not survive due to flash flooding. Some rice varieties could survive but severe, stagnant and lost the yield. Inpago 9 and Inpari 30 resulted highest yield compared to others varieties during RS 2015/2016 and DS 2016, respectively. Grain yields of Inpago 9 and Inpari 30 were approximately around 5.38 and 5.29 Mg ha-1, respectively. Ciherang and Inpara 5 showed lowest CH4 emissions during RS 2015/2016 and DS 2016 approximately 108 and 78.3 kg C ha-1 season-1, respectively. Varieties that could survive in flash flood condition as well as mitigate CH4 emission were Ciherang, Inpago 8, Inpari 30 and Inpara 5.