To clarify the cause of annual changes in methane (CH4) emission from paddy fields incorporated with rice straw in a cold region of Japan, we measured methane flux from 1992 to 2013 (excluding 1997–2002). Annual methane emission was correlated with the cumulative average day temperature. Methane flux could not be clearly correlated with the soil redox potential (Eh) were not correlated when Eh was under −100 mV, which was the reducing condition. However, methane flux in June could be correlated with the average temperature in the same month. Methane flux decreased in June when Eh was over −100 mV, which was not the reducing condition. In contrast, methane flux in June correlated with methane flux in July, and methane flux in July decreased when Eh was over −100 mV in the same month. The results suggest that the duration of midseason drainage influences soil Eh in July and that methane emission may be reduced by prolonging the midseason drainage from paddy fields in cold regions of Japan.
In another report, we indicated that prolonging midseason drainage (MD) may reduce methane emission from paddy fields in cold regions of Japan. Therefore, we investigated the effects of mitigating methane emission by two methods of prolonging MD, front-loaded MD and delayed MD, on the growth and grain yield of rice. The results were as follows:
(1) Methane emission with front-loaded MD was about 36%–48% lower than that with conventional water management. Methane emission with delayed MD was about 24%–37% lower than that with conventional water management.
(2) Front-loaded MD was more effective in reducing methane emission than delayed MD.
(3) The number of grains per panicle reduced by front-loaded MD.
(4) Grain yield in front-loaded MD plots tended to decrease, but the decrease was not statistically significant.
(5) The percentages of ripe grains in front-loaded MD plots and delayed MD plots were higher than those in conventional water management.
We conclude that prolonging MD effectively decreases methane emission and improves brown rice quality.