Ridge-furrow mulching system and supplementary irrigation can reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity

In this study, in order to explore the greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential (GWP) in winter wheat fields under the ridge-furrow mulching system (RF) with supplementary irrigation, three rainfall conditions (heavy rainfall = 275 mm, normal rainfall = 200 mm, and light rainfall = 125 mm) and four irrigation treatments (150, 75, 37.5, and 0 mm) were simulated during the growth period. Traditional flat planting (TF) was used as the control and we determined the emissions of N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄, as well as the GWP and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). The results obtained after three years (October 2016 to June 2019) showed that when the amount of irrigation was the same during the winter wheat growth period, the N₂O emission flux, CO₂ emission flux, and GHGI under RF decreased by 3.30-23.78%, 5.93-6.45%, and 5.01-23.72% with rainfall at 275 mm, respectively, compared with those under TF. Under the same level of supplementary irrigation, the N₂O emission flux, CO₂ emission flux, and GHGI decreased by 0.8-4.18%, 5.05-13.53%, and 7.83-13.72%, respectively, with rainfall at 200 mm, and they decreased by 17.49-32.46%, 25.57-35.35%, and 6.22-30.20% with rainfall at 125 mm. Under the three rainfall conditions, the absorption of CH4 in the winter wheat field increased as the supplementary irrigation decreased. Our results showed that the RF system can satisfy the goal of achieving high yields and saving water, as well as reducing the GHGI to contribute less to global climate warming as an environmentally friendly irrigation method.