| Summary: | Rice paddies are a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), posing challenges for climate mitigation in rice-dependent countries like Bangladesh. A collaborative study by BRRI, IRRI, IFDC, and Japan’s NARO evaluated practical, yield-neutral strategies to reduce GHG emissions across saline and non-saline agro-ecosystems over consecutive Boro and Aman seasons. Multi-location field trials demonstrated that selecting climate-smart rice cultivars and optimizing nitrogen fertilizer use can substantially lower emissions without compromising productivity. Varieties such as BRRI dhan67, BRRI hybrid dhan3, BRRI dhan75, and BRRI hybrid dhan6 reduced CH₄ emissions and overall global warming potential by up to 13%. Additionally, reducing nitrogen application by 20% decreased CH₄ and N₂O emissions while maintaining yields. Saline soils further lowered emissions, though with some yield trade-offs. The study highlights integrated varietal and nutrient management as scalable pathways toward low-emission, climate-resilient rice systems.
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