Long-Term Elevated CO₂ Improves Soil Health and Rice Yields in Paddy Fields

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Soil Science

Background:

• Soil health is crucial for rice paddy productivity and ecosystem services.
• The impact of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) on paddy soil health is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate soil health responses to eCO2 in long-term rice experiments.
• To assess the impact of eCO2 on soil multifunctionality and rice yield.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from two long-running rice free-air CO2 enrichment experiments (12 and 15 years).
• Integrated global observations of soil health responses to eCO2.

Main Results:

• Long-term eCO2 significantly improves paddy soil health.
• Enhanced soil health supports crop production, water purification, and climate change mitigation.
• Paddy soils show greater benefits from eCO2 than other terrestrial ecosystems.

Conclusions:

• Long-term eCO2 exposure enhances paddy soil health and multifunctionality.
• eCO2 reinforces the positive effect on rice yield, unlike in natural ecosystems.
• Findings provide evidence for widespread, cumulative soil health benefits from eCO2.