Rice Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 254-259 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 254 Case Study Open Access Evaluating the Application Effects of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Irrigation in Rice Cultivation Zhongxian Li, Ruchun Chen, Haiying Huang Hier Rice Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: haiying.huang@hitar.org Rice Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.5 doi: 10.5376/rgg.2025.16.0022 Received: 27 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 06 Sep., 2025 Published: 20 Sep., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Li 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: Li Z.X., Chen R.C., and Huang H.Y., 2025, Evaluating the application effects of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation in rice cultivation, Rice Genomics and Genetics, 16(5): 254-259 (doi: 10.5376/rgg.2025.16.0022) Abstract This study systematically evaluated the application effects of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation technology in rice cultivation, with a focus on its role in improving water use efficiency, maintaining yield stability, enhancing grain quality, and reducing environmental impacts. Field experiments were conducted in two representative rice-growing regions in China-Xinghua in Jiangsu Province and Guanghan in Sichuan Province-to compare the performance of AWD and conventional continuous flooding under varying ecological and agronomic conditions. The results showed that AWD significantly reduced irrigation water consumption while maintaining or slightly increasing yield, and effectively mitigated greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating a strong synergy between water saving and emission reduction. By integrating agronomic performance with ecological benefits, this study clarified the practical value and strategic significance of AWD technology in building a climate-resilient and resource-efficient rice production system. The findings aim to provide theoretical guidance and technical support for advancing sustainable and efficient rice farming, and promoting the development of water-saving agriculture. Keywords Rice cultivation; Alternate wetting and drying (AWD); Water use efficiency; Greenhouse gas mitigation; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Rice cultivation is a critical agricultural activity, providing a staple food source for over half of the global population. However, traditional irrigation practices in rice farming, such as continuous flooding (CF), pose significant challenges, particularly concerning water use efficiency and environmental sustainability. Rice fields are among the largest consumers of freshwater resources and are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) (Carrijo et al., 2017; Sriphirom et al., 2019; Gao et al., 2024). These challenges necessitate the exploration of alternative irrigation methods that can conserve water and reduce emissions without compromising rice yields. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation has emerged as a promising water-saving technique in rice cultivation. This method involves periodic drying of the rice fields, allowing the water level to drop below the soil surface before re-irrigation. The theoretical basis of AWD is rooted in its potential to enhance water use efficiency and reduce methane emissions by introducing aerobic soil conditions intermittently during the growing season (Carrijo et al., 2017; Song et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2023). Over the years, AWD has evolved with varying thresholds and management practices to optimize its benefits, such as maintaining soil water potential above certain levels to prevent yield loss (Zhao et al., 2024). This study will evaluate the effectiveness of AWD irrigation in specific regions, focusing on its impact on water use, rice yield, and greenhouse gas emissions, and gain insight into the feasibility and benefits of adopting AWD as a standard practice for rice cultivation, thereby providing a reference for policies and practices in similar agricultural settings.
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