Cleaner Production Technologies Increased Economic Benefits and Greenhouse Gas Intensity in an Eco-Rice System in China

The sustainability of intensification of rice production is a prime concern for China. Application of organic amendments, changes in crop rotation system, ducklings’ introduction, and construction of vegetated drainage ditches are some of the original management strategies to mitigate environmental pollution from paddy fields. Although these practices affect the rice culturing system through different mechanisms, there is limited investigation on their effectiveness on nutrient pollution alleviation. Therefore, a field study was carried out with the assessment of soil physico-chemical properties, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen removal efficiency, grain yield, and economic benefits by comparing the eco-rice culturing system (ER) to the local single rice cultivation system (CK). Results showed that the ER system can significantly improve soil fertility by increasing the pH in acidic soil, organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), and available potassium (K) content by 5.2%, 25.7%, 19.1%, and 19.4% in relation to CK, respectively. Meanwhile, about 10% of the total fertilizer N was removed from the harvesting of the plant species (Myriophyllum elatinoides and Pennisetum purpureum) in the vegetated drainage ditches. However, the ER system decreased the plant height (1.1%) and the number of tillers (9.6%), resulting in a reduction of the total grain yield (6.0%). Moreover, compared with the CK system, the ER system increased CH4 cumulative emission, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) by 11.1%, 8.1%, and 14.3%, respectively, and decreased N2O by 27.2%, but not statistical significantly (p < 0.05). Even so, by taking the costs of farm operations and carbon costs of greenhouse gas emissions, the net economic benefits by applying the ER system were higher relative to the CK system. Thus, our study provides further understanding of the technology which has the potential to transform sustainable rice production to a more profitable, income generating, and environmentally friendly industry in China.

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Spatiotemporal Evolution of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Transferring via Trade: Influencing Factors and Policy Implications

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17145065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 5065 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhangqi Zhong ◽

Xu Zhang ◽

Weina Gao

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Global Climate ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Spillover Effects ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Energy Structure ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Factors Influencing

Global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from anthropogenic activities have already become the focus of the world. A more systematic and comprehensive analysis on the factors influencing the changes of global GHGs transferring via trade have not been fully discussed. To this end, employing spatial econometric regression models and multi-regional input-output models, this paper reveals factors influencing the GHGs transferring via trade changes in 39 major economies, so as to develop the relevant GHGs reduction policies. The results indicate that regions with the highest net outflow of GHGs transferring via trade are primarily Russia and Canada, and the adverse effects of promoting GHGs reduction on the national economy could be avoided by these regions owing to trade relations. Additionally, factors influencing the changes in GHGs transferring via trade have significant spatial autocorrelation, and population size and energy structure exert significant spatial spillover effects on the changes in the GHGs transferring via trade. On this basis, this paper suggests that one more effective way to prevent trade from the rigorous demands of environmental governance measures while preserving the economic benefits of international trade may be to facilitate cooperation between countries on GHGs mitigation. Further, we articulate more balanced environment governance policies, including conducting the sharing of advanced energy technologies and developing clearer production technologies.

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