Effect of aerobic rice planting methods on Methane gas emission, water fingerprint and rice productivity under different sources of organic fertilizer.

Flooded rice is a source of atmospheric methane (CH4) which is one of the greenhouse gases that caused global warming flooded rice also, consumed high amounts of water despite its rare in Egypt. This study focuses on mitigation strategies to face those problems by testing organic fertilization under different cultivation methods, for rice varieties and their effect on CH4 flux and grain yield of rice. Two field trials were conducted at Sakha agriculture research station during 2021 and 2022 growing seasons, whereas the experiments were designed in split-split plot design with four replications. The main plot consisted of three planting methods; transplanting, furrow and drill. The sub plot involved two rice varieties namely, Giza 179 and Sakha supper300. The sup-sup plots were subjugated by organic fertilizer, rice straw compost, farm yard manure and filter mud compost as well as control treatment. The result of the study provides that rice cultivars are major causes of variations in CH4 fluxes. Sakha super300 rice variety contributed in increasing CH4 gas emission than Giza179 variety. CH4 emission depends on the type of organic matter, applied rice straw compost and farmyard manure increased methane gas emission than filter mud compost. CH4 gas emission decreased under furrow and drill cultivation methods meanwhile, the defense system of rice plants increased compared with transplanting. Yield and its components increased under transplanting compared with other cultivation methods, yield increased by applied organic matter than control. Giza179variety was better than Sakha super300variety under dry cultivation and produced a higher grain yield. To sum up, furrow irrigated rice using Giza179 rice variety fertilized by filter mud compost can reduce methane gas emission and save water in addition to obtaining better grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]