Rice Yield and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due to Biochar and Straw Application under Optimal Reduced N Fertilizers in a Double Season Rice Cropping System

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of straw and biochar on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and grain yield in a double rice cropping system under optimal N fertilizer reduction. Conventional fertilization (CF) was used as the control group, and treatments included optimal fertilization and 15% less nitrogen (OF), together with straw (S) or biochar (B) applied under different fertilization conditions, namely CF + S, CF + B, OF + S, and OF + B. The effects of treatments on soil CH4 and N2O emissions were studied, and changes in soil physicochemical properties were analyzed. The results showed that relative to CF, CF + S and OF + S increased the cumulative CH4 emissions by 11.80% and 2.35%, respectively, while CF + B and OF + B resulted in significant reductions in cumulative CH4 emissions by 27.80% and 28.46%, respectively. Biochar was effective in reducing N2O emissions, and OF further increased the potential, with CF + B and OF + B achieving the best N2O reductions of 30.56% and 32.21%, respectively. Although OF reduced yields by 0.16%, this difference was within reasonable limits; the remaining treatments increased grain yields by 2.55% to 3.47%. CF + B and OF + B reduced the global warming potential (GWP) by 27.93% and 28.63%, respectively, and ultimately reduced the greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 30.42% and 30.97%. Both straw and biochar increased the soil organic matter, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N contents, and biochar increased the soil pH, which may be the potential mechanism regulating soil GHG emissions. Overall, OF + B is beneficial for reducing GHG emissions and may be a better agronomic cropping pattern in double season rice growing areas.