Life cycle assessment in conventional rice farming system: Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions using cradle-to-gate approach

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 212; pp. 1526 - 1535
• Main Authors: Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Hariz, Chen, Sau Soon, Abdul Razak, Putri Razreena, Abu Bakar, Nurul Ain, Shahrun, Mohammad Shahid, Zin Zawawi, Norziana, Muhamad Mujab, Azzami Adam, Abdullah, Fazlyzan, Jumat, Fauzi, Kamaruzaman, Rahiniza, Saidon, Shamsul Amri, Abdul Talib, Shaidatul Azdawiyah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Greenhouse gas (GHG); Impact assesment; Inventory; Mitigation; Mitigation; Impact assesment; Greenhouse gas (GHG); Inventory
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.062

Rice farming is one of the highly intensive agricultural activities in Malaysia. Increasing population since the country's independence parallels the increasing demands for rice products. The impact on the environment has been highlighted as one of the criteria for it to be more accessible and acceptable for commercial and consumer consumption as technology progresses. In view of this, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a platform for the environmental emission from rice to be quantified. This study focused on the conventional approach of rice production, which begins from seed cultivation, land preparation, seeding, field maintenance, and harvesting. It quantified all the inputs involved in the process such as fertilizer, soil conditioner, pesticides and fuel. The results of the LCA's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) impact analysis had identified that net emission for production of un-milled rice grain was 1.39 tonnes CO2 eq per tonne. The analysis further highlighted that major emission contributed mostly from CH4 during field cultivation, measured with percentage CO2 eq contribution of 76.85%. A mitigation potential was therefore proposed for on-field biomass and water management. This included improving the rate of straw degradation and potential of improving water management through alternate wetting and drying (AWD). It may potentially reduce the environmental emission by half if successfully implemented. •System boundary for rice production in Malaysia constitutes of 5 stages of seed production followed by the un-milled rice.•Net GHG emission for production of un-milled rice grain was 1.39 tonnes CO2 eq per tonne.•Methane emission from flooded rice activities contributed to as much as 76.85% of the total emission.•Potential mitigation approaches include alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and rice straw management.