Scalable straw management options for improved farmer livelihoods, sustainability, and low environmental footprint in rice-based production systems

A three-year project was launched in 2015 to conduct research on different rice straw management options. Experts from IRRI and its national partners in Cambodia, Philippines, and Vietnam aim to introduce practical and viable technology options to optimize the use of rice straw and bring income opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. The project has five research output-oriented packages that will come up with economic and environmentally viable solutions to manage rice straw in small and large scale farms. Our contribution is mainly found in

(i) Output 2: Carbon footprint of conventional straw management options under different mechanization levels of harvest/postharvest operations and

(ii) Output 3: Carbonization of straw (biochar) as a pioneering approach for lowering footprint and increasing income.

In order to tap the full potential of rice straw char-compost, deeper understanding of the carbonization and the composting process itself are required. Additionally, suitable technology for the production of rice straw derived char must be developed. In a field experiment, systematically produced rice-straw biochar compost of different compositions, mixing intervals and maturity states will be derived and analyzed. The practical experiments are accompanied by data acquisition for life cycle assessment following ISO 14040 / 14044.