Rice crop management to increase productivity and reduce methane emissions in Indonesia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of Indonesia, and its production must continue to increase to meet growing demand driven by population growth, high dependency on rice as a carbohydrate source, and inefficient consumption patterns.However, rice cultivation faces several critical challenges, including the reduction of agricultural land, land-use conversion, declining soil fertility, a shrinking number of farming households, and increased pest pressure.Efforts to enhance rice productivity while addressing environmental concerns have focused on the adoption of effective and sustainable crop management practices.Irrigated rice fields contribute the highest yields due to their superior productivity and cropping index, but they also serve as major sources of methane (CH₄) emissions-primarily released through aerenchyma tissues, ebullition, and diffusion.This paper explores sustainable crop management strategies aimed at reducing CH₄ emissions while maintaining or improving productivity.These strategies include the selection of low-emission rice varieties, optimization of planting systems, and improved land-use planning across various agroecosystems, including irrigated fields, rainfed fields, tidal swamps, freshwater swamps, and dryland areas.By integrating these approaches, rice cultivation in Indonesia can move toward greater environmental sustainability and long-term food security.