Effects of alternate wetting and drying irrigation on yield, water-saving, and emission reduction in rice fields: A global meta-analysis

With limited natural resources and uncertain climate, increasing food production must mitigate the environmental impacts. Rice, a water-intensive grain crop, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agricultural systems. Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Irrigation stands out as the prevailing water-saving irrigation technique in rice fields worldwide. Nonetheless, the effects of AWD on yield variation, water conservation, and emissions reduction as well as the synergies and trade-offs between the effects remain unclear. Here a global meta-analysis of 437 literature sources covering 93 % of global rice production was conducted to quantify changes in yield, water utilization, and GHG emissions following AWD implementation. Results show that, on a global scale, AWD reduces irrigation water usage by 33.88 % and enhances water use efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency, and water productivity by 20.27 %, 47.58 %, and 29.63 %, respectively. However, there is a minor decrease in yield by 1.56 %. Notably, AWD leads to a noteworthy 47.47 % reduction in methane emissions, counterbalanced by a 52.20 % rise in N2O emissions, ultimately resulting in a decrease in global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) by 39.38 % and 38.06 %, respectively. The AWD threshold is the most significant predictive factor, adopting a suitable threshold can greatly improve the accuracy of AWD implementation. Soil properties also play a pivotal role, with pH levels > 7 or soil organic carbon (SOC) < 12 g/kg correlating to more pronounced yield losses. Implementing reasonable field management measures, such as suitable rice varieties and straw incorporation can effectively increase rice productivity. Approximately 60.36 % of the data falls within the "win–win" zone, demonstrating simultaneous in yield increases, water conservation, and emissions reduction. AWD is more suitable for acidic soils with high SOC (>12 g/kg) and a light texture. This study introduces novel insights for analyzing the synergies and trade-offs within the food–water–climate nexus.