Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.3, 145-157 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 145 Research Report Open Access Environmental Impacts of Different Rice Cultivation Systems: A Comparative Analysis Ruchun Chen, Zhongxian Li, Jianquan Li Hainan Tropical Agricultural Resources Research Institute, Haier Rice Research Center, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: jianquan.li@hitar.org Field Crop, 2024, Vol.7, No.3 doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0015 Received: 28 Mar., 2024 Accepted: 10 May, 2024 Published: 31 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen R.C., Li Z.X., and Li J.Q., 2024, Environmental impacts of different rice cultivation systems: a comparative analysis, Field Crop, 7(3): 145-157 (doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0015) Abstract Rice cultivation is a critical agricultural activity with significant environmental impacts. This study aims to assess these impacts across various rice cultivation systems, including traditional paddy cultivation, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), direct-seeded rice (DSR), organic rice farming, and other emerging systems. The research focuses on key environmental categories such as water usage and management, soil health and fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and agrochemical use. Through comparative analysis and case studies, the report highlights differences in environmental impacts among these cultivation systems. Sustainable practices and innovations, including water-saving techniques, soil conservation methods, emission reduction strategies, biodiversity enhancement, and integrated pest and nutrient management, are explored. The study also discusses policy and regulatory implications, emphasizing the need for national and international policies, incentives for sustainable practices, and effective compliance and monitoring mechanisms. Future directions for research, technology adoption, collaborative efforts, and long-term environmental monitoring are proposed. The findings underscore the importance of adopting sustainable rice cultivation practices to mitigate environmental impacts and ensure agricultural sustainability. Keywords Rice cultivation; Environmental impact; Sustainable agriculture; Greenhouse gas emissions; Soil health 1 Introduction Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world's population, playing a crucial role in global food security and nutrition. The cultivation of rice, however, is not without its environmental challenges. Traditional rice farming methods, particularly those involving continuous flooding, are significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) (Jiang et al., 2019; Hariz et al., 2019). These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change, making it imperative to explore and assess alternative rice cultivation systems that can mitigate these environmental impacts (Maraseni et al., 2018; Arunrat et al., 2021). Assessing the environmental impacts of rice cultivation is essential for developing sustainable agricultural practices (Mali et al., 2023). Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method used to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with all stages of a product's life, from cradle to gate. This approach has been applied to rice farming to quantify GHG emissions and other environmental impacts, such as terrestrial toxicity, fossil fuel scarcity, and human health risks (Hariz et al., 2019; Alphonso and Thirumani, 2023). By understanding these impacts, policymakers and farmers can make informed decisions to adopt practices that reduce the environmental footprint of rice production. This study evaluates and compares conventional rice farming, organic rice farming, and innovative practices such as the system of rice intensification (SRI) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). By analyzing data from various studies, this study identifies the most sustainable rice cultivation methods that can reduce GHG emissions, improves soil health, and enhance overall sustainability. The findings provides valuable insights for farmers, researchers, and policymakers to promote environmentally friendly rice farming practices. This study explores the environmental impacts of different rice cultivation systems, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to mitigate the adverse effects of traditional rice farming on the environment. Through a systematic comparative
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