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FOR 1701:  Introducing Non-Flooded Crops in Rice-Dominated Landscapes: Impact on Carbon, Nitrogen and Water Cycles (ICON)

Fachliche Zuordnung Agrar-, Forstwissenschaften und Tiermedizin
Medizin
Förderung Förderung von 2011 bis 2019
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 194371065
 
Erstellungsjahr 2019

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research unit ICON concentrated on the consequences of altered fertilization (conventional, site-specific and zero), intercropping mitigation measures (straw mulching and cover crop introduction), flooding regimes (flooded vs. non-flooded) and crop diversification (wet rice vs. dry rice vs. maize) on the biogeochemical cycling of C and N, associated greenhouse gas emissions, the water balance, biological activity and diversity in soil and other important ecosystem services of rice cropping systems in SE Asia with the focus on Philippines. The overarching goal was to provide the basic process understanding necessary for balancing the revenues and environmental impacts of high-yield rice cropping systems while maintaining their vital ecosystem services. A huge field experiment was established at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, Philippines), which was complemented by laboratory experiments as well as extended field studies and experiments at other regions of the Philippines, representing different soil types. It was shown that pollution swapping based on GHG emissions associated with crop diversification seems not to be a major risk as was initially hypothesized. Losses of soil organic carbon could reverse positive changes of the GWP if they exceed 0.5 t C ha^-1 per cropping season. Overall, introduction of upland crops in the dry season dramatically reduces irrigation water use and CH4 emissions. Concerning management practices including upland crops, CH4 emissions in the subsequent wet season with paddy rice were significantly reduced (-54–60%). The release of trace gases can partly be buffered by macro- and micro-bioturbation of the soil fauna. Crop diversification reduced water retention with the long-term balance depending on climatic fluctuations. Crack dynamics seem to be the critical driver of hydrological cycling. However, maize cropping in the dry season could save water and reduce nutrient leaching in the long term compared to continuous paddy-rice cropping. Concerning the long-term reduction of nutrient and water losses from rice paddies, straw mulching and mung bean as cover crop failed to eliminate transient losses of water, nitrogen and organic carbon in the first year after the introduction of maize. In contrast, rice straw amendment substantially affected the microbial uptake of root-released carbon in the rhizosphere. Earthworms, enchytraeids and other soil invertebrates increase the sustainability of paddy soils by forming a hierarchical multi-taxon system that efficiently stabilizes organic matter and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions. This ecological system is effective in rice fields with upland crops. The model LandscapeDNDC was further developed to allow simulating the effect of seasonal changes of lowland (wet and dry season rice) systems to mixed lowland-upland systems (wet season rice – dry season maize or “upland” rice) on the net greenhouse gas balance of agricultural systems. Simplified algorithms capable of representing the significant diurnal variability of CH4 emissions in the early growing season if measurements are only done once per day were also developed. To conclude, ICON successfully prepared the scientific ground for future changes in rice production in SE Asia towards greater sustainability. This was only possible through the combination of process-oriented and organism-oriented research. New options in rice productions inter alia include the biological management of rice straw residues along with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and upland crop growth stimulation.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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