A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of water management techniques for maintaining rice growth and reducing methane emission in a Louisiana Crowley silt loam paddy soil receiving high rice straw additions. A 2 x 5 factorial experiment was arranged in a split plot design with two water management practices (alternately flooded and drained, and continuously flooded), five rates of rice straw incorporation as subplot treatments (0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 t ha -1), with four replications. Rice yield was significantly greater in alternately flooded and drained treatment as compared to continuously flooded treatment. Methane emissions increased with increase in rice straw application rate. However, emissions were lower in the alternately flooded and drained treatment plots. Results demonstrate that draining a field for a short period of time during the growing season can enhance rice growth and rice yield while reducing methane emission.
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