Rice cultivation is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to flooded paddies conducive to methane production and the overapplication of nitrogen fertilizers that elevate nitrous oxide emissions.

With rice comprising approximately 75% of Bangladesh’s agricultural land, implementing effective low-emission farming practices is not only vital for climate change mitigation but also essential for ensuring food security.

A collaborative research initiative involving the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC), and Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation (NARO) focused on identifying climate-smart agricultural practices. The goal was to reduce emissions without sacrificing yields.

Effective Climate-Smart Practices

The research revealed that selecting appropriate rice varieties is pivotal in minimizing methane emissions. Notably, BRRI dhan67 and BRRI hybrid dhan3 emerged as promising climate-smart varieties.

During the dry season, BRRI dhan67 reduced methane emissions by 9% to 14% compared to other varieties, while BRRI hybrid dhan3 achieved reductions of between 6% and 14%. Both varieties demonstrated a decrease in Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 10% to 13% for BRRI dhan67 and 8% to 11% for BRRI hybrid dhan3, showcasing their potential as climate mitigation tools.

In the wet season, BRRI dhan75 and BRRI hybrid dhan6 similarly decreased methane emissions by around 7% to 14% when compared to BRRI dhan87 and BRRI dhan90.

Furthermore, reducing nitrogen fertilizer applications by 20% led to a decline in methane emissions by 6% and a reduction in nitrous oxide emissions by 17%, while still maintaining stable grain yields. This suggests that farmers can cut input costs and their carbon footprint without compromising production.

The findings illustrate that simple, scalable interventions can enhance the sustainability of rice cultivation, allowing farmers to achieve both productivity and environmental objectives.

For rice-growing delta regions like Bangladesh, these insights provide a practical roadmap for diminishing agriculture’s carbon footprint while ensuring food security.

Saline Soil Influence on Rice Cultivation

The research also assessed the impact of saline soils, a significant portion of Bangladesh’s cultivable land. Findings indicated that coastal saline soils could lower the overall GWP by 9% compared to non-saline soils, with about 10% less methane being emitted, likely due to microbial inhibition under high salinity conditions, which slows down methanogenesis.

However, non-saline soils were associated with enhanced crop productivity, yielding 11% more than saline soils and allowing for a 13% greater total nitrogen uptake. This underlines the need for tailored management strategies to optimize both emission reductions and agricultural output.

For more detailed insights, refer to the research published in Science of The Total Environment: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180192. The article is titled Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving rice yield: The influence of cultivars, soil salinity, and nitrogen management by S.M Mofijul Isalam et al.