Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.3, 154-165 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 162 have also tried subsidies and rewards, such as providing some carbon reduction subsidies and giving away some equipment, which has made people more enthusiastic. More importantly, AWD has demonstrated that increasing production and reducing emissions can actually be achieved simultaneously (Allera et al., 2024). This has led policies to no longer focus solely on output but to start considering win-win goals. Nowadays, some countries have incorporated AWD into their climate action plans and set specific usage ratios (Wassmann, 2016). This indicates that the promotion of technology must be well coordinated with aspects such as systems, organizations, and incentives in order to be truly rolled out. In the future, as the consensus among people increases, AWD may become a major direction for rice emission reduction and sustainable development in Southeast Asia. 8 Challenges and Future Prospects Although AWD has performed well in many places, when it comes to promoting it to different regions, the issue of suitability still needs to be considered. Firstly, there are significant differences in climate and hydrology across regions. For instance, in monsoon areas, there is abundant rainfall, and AWD can be implemented simply by natural drying. However, if it is placed in arid or semi-arid areas, forcing it might actually lead to even greater water shortages. In such cases, it might be necessary to consider planting drought-tolerant varieties or even switching to upland rice. There are still some areas prone to waterlogging where the drainage conditions are not up to standard, making it difficult for the water to dry up. The type of soil is also crucial. Clay is prone to cracking and sand seeps water too quickly. If not managed properly, the water-saving effect may be compromised. The varieties also need to be carefully selected. Some traditional varieties have shallow roots and are not drought-tolerant. They cannot tolerate alternating dry and wet conditions. It is best to use new varieties that are both drought-tolerant and wet-tolerant. In addition, the water conservancy facilities and the management level of farmers must also keep up. Small-scale farmers have scattered plots of land, and it is not easy to operate uniformly. Ultimately, the policy priorities and food security demands of different countries vary, which also affects whether they are willing to promote AWD. In conclusion, AWD cannot be applied in a one-size-fits-all manner. It is necessary to consider the local water, soil and variety conditions, conduct an adaptability assessment, and find an appropriate approach to ensure its wide promotion and long-term use. To enhance the practical effect of AWD, it is best to combine it with some other low-carbon and efficient agricultural measures, so that they can promote each other. First of all, the variety is crucial. Choose those with strong roots, drought tolerance and low fertilizer consumption. Combined with AWD, it is easier to achieve both stable production and emission reduction. Fertilizer management should also keep up. For instance, some slow-release fertilizers, organic fertilizers or returning straw to the field can be used. This can not only enhance the utilization of nitrogen but also reduce the emission of nitrous oxide. In addition, soil conditioners like biochar are also quite useful. They can help retain soil water, promote microbial activity, and further reduce emissions and stabilize production on the basis of AWD. AWD can also be combined with shallow wet irrigation and mid-term sun-drying methods to flexibly adjust water usage based on local conditions, thus forming a more suitable water-saving model for the local area. Some adjustments can also be made to the planting system, such as rotating rice and dryland crops, or planting some green manure, which can not only improve the soil but also reduce emissions. Overall, packaging measures such as AWD, good varieties, scientific fertilization, soil improvement, and reasonable crop rotation into a "water-saving and emission reduction technology package" has the best comprehensive effect and can truly promote the green and efficient development of rice cultivation. The research and application of AWD in the future still need to make more efforts in several aspects. First, some long-term positioning tests need to be conducted to see exactly what long-term impacts it has on soil carbon and nitrogen, microorganisms, as well as yield and quality. Secondly, it is necessary to optimize the operation threshold, such as using sensors and models to find the most suitable degree of drying under different conditions, and developing a "dynamic AWD" that can be adjusted in real time. Digital agricultural technologies can also be of assistance. For instance, the Internet of Things and automatic irrigation systems can make control more precise and save labor. In addition, it is best for AWD to be integrated into the entire agricultural production system. This way, its ability to cope with climate change will be stronger. Even if the irrigation water is reduced by 20% in the future, the output can still be maintained. From a global perspective of emission reduction, if more than half of the
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