Methane emissions and related physicochemical soil and water parameters in rice-fish systems in Bangladesh [An article from: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment]

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Description:
Lowland rice fields constitute a semi aquatic environment, which is potentially suitable for fish production. Little is known about the effect of fish on greenhouse gas emissions from integrated rice-fish systems. An experiment was carried out at the Bangladesh Agricultural University to assess the effect of the stocking of fish on methane emissions from rice fields. Common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) were stocked in a mixed culture and subjected to three different input regimes: (1) urea fertilization according to the recommendation of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), (2) supplementary feeding at 2xmaintenance level and (3) an elevated feeding schedule where 4xmaintenance level was fed initially and 2xmaintenance level towards the end of the growth period. Rice only with urea fertilization according to BRRI-recommendation was included as the control. The presence of fish increased methane emissions in all three rice-fish treatments. Average emission over the cropping season was 34, 37, and 32mgm^-^2h^-^1 in the rice-fish treatments, respectively, and 20mgm^-^2h^-^1 in rice only. Apart from an increase in methane emission, a significant drop (p