Chapter 27
Scenario Analysis of Environmental
Impact of Paddy Rice Farming Systems
Utilizing Different Fertilizer Materials
Tatsuo Hishinuma, Saaya Ono, and Atsuo Ikeguchi
Abstract Assessment of the environmental impact of applying materials to the
paddy rice farming system is crucial to the promotion of low inputs of chemical fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, and encouraging the application of composted
livestock manure. In this study, we assessed greenhouse gas emissions, total nitrogen
and total phosphorus losses from soil, and acidification gas emissions from paddy
rice farming systems using different inputs, employing scenario analysis and lifecycle assessment strategies. Scenario analysis of farms in Shiga prefecture indicated a
lower environmental impact from paddy rice farming systems using organic fertilizer
compared with conventional systems. On the other hand, the environmental impact
from the paddy rice farming systems in Tochigi prefecture using composted manure
was greater than that from systems applying chemical fertilizers.
Keywords Paddy rice production · LCA · GHG emission · Eutrophication ·
Scenario analysis
27.1 Introduction
Rice paddies are one of the major causes of environmental impact, contributing to
global warming and water body eutrophication caused by excessive inputs of nitrogen
and phosphorus. Methane emission, which has a very large global warming impact,
was estimated to be 13.9 Mt-CO 2 e (representing 9% of total agricultural GHG emissions) from rice paddies, and CH 4 emissions have increased in Japan, compared with
those at benchmark year (12.7 Mt-CO 2 e, 1990) (Greenhouse Gas Inventory Office
of Japan 2018). The loss of nutrients from fertilizer applied to rice paddies increases
the total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) in water bodies through leaching
and runoff. Recently, paddy rice farming systems that reduce artificial inputs (chemical fertilizers and crop protection chemicals) by applying organic fertilizers and
composted livestock manure have been developed as an example of environmentally
T. Hishinuma (B) · S. Ono · A. Ikeguchi
Department of Environmental Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
e-mail: thishinuma@cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_27
415
Scenario Analysis of Environmental
Impact of Paddy Rice Farming Systems
Utilizing Different Fertilizer Materials
Tatsuo Hishinuma, Saaya Ono, and Atsuo Ikeguchi
Abstract Assessment of the environmental impact of applying materials to the
paddy rice farming system is crucial to the promotion of low inputs of chemical fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, and encouraging the application of composted
livestock manure. In this study, we assessed greenhouse gas emissions, total nitrogen
and total phosphorus losses from soil, and acidification gas emissions from paddy
rice farming systems using different inputs, employing scenario analysis and lifecycle assessment strategies. Scenario analysis of farms in Shiga prefecture indicated a
lower environmental impact from paddy rice farming systems using organic fertilizer
compared with conventional systems. On the other hand, the environmental impact
from the paddy rice farming systems in Tochigi prefecture using composted manure
was greater than that from systems applying chemical fertilizers.
Keywords Paddy rice production · LCA · GHG emission · Eutrophication ·
Scenario analysis
27.1 Introduction
Rice paddies are one of the major causes of environmental impact, contributing to
global warming and water body eutrophication caused by excessive inputs of nitrogen
and phosphorus. Methane emission, which has a very large global warming impact,
was estimated to be 13.9 Mt-CO 2 e (representing 9% of total agricultural GHG emissions) from rice paddies, and CH 4 emissions have increased in Japan, compared with
those at benchmark year (12.7 Mt-CO 2 e, 1990) (Greenhouse Gas Inventory Office
of Japan 2018). The loss of nutrients from fertilizer applied to rice paddies increases
the total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) in water bodies through leaching
and runoff. Recently, paddy rice farming systems that reduce artificial inputs (chemical fertilizers and crop protection chemicals) by applying organic fertilizers and
composted livestock manure have been developed as an example of environmentally
T. Hishinuma (B) · S. Ono · A. Ikeguchi
Department of Environmental Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
e-mail: thishinuma@cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_27
415