China greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities and its mitigation strategy

Agriculture is one of the important greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources. Based on People’s Republic of China Initinal National Communications on Climate Change, the GHG emission from agricultural sources contributed to 17% of China’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 1994. The methane emission from agricultural activities amounted for 50.15% of China’s total methane, the nitrous oxide emission from agricultural sources accounted for 92.47% of China’s total. Analysis of published papers and documents suggested that following technologies have the potential to mitigate GHG emission from agricultural activities. Improvement of ruminant nutrient is estimated to reduce CH4 emission from individual yellow cattle by 16%～30%; Intermittent irrigation of rice paddy field could reduce CH4 emissions flux by 30% in comparison with flush irrigation; Maximum GHG emission reduction per household biogas digesters could be 2.0～4.1 t CO2 equivalent per year. Application of release-controlled nitrogen fertilizer to crop land reduced N2O emission flux by 50%～70% against regular fertilizers. It is suggested that demonstration and assessment of identified mitigation technology are definitely necessary.