Wastes Management Can Minimize CH4 and N2O Emissions from Wetlands in Indonesia

Abstract

Paddy (Oriza sativa L.) and Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jack) are two important crops and are potential to produce wastes which may lead to huge green house gas emissions if they are not managed properly. Open burning and conventional composting are commonly practiced by farmers and/or planters to managed agricultural wastes in Indonesia. A series of research has been carried out to elucidate (1) the reductions of CH4 and N2O due to incertion of a catalitic converter on burning kiln, (2) green house gas emissions from different composting techniques of oil palm field wastes, and (3) the effects of oil palm field wastes compost application in oil palm fields and of paddy field wastes biochar in integrated oil palm-paddy fields. The results showed that CH4 and N2O emissions from paddy field wastes (i.e., rice straw or rice husk) was lower than that from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB). Furthermore, insertion of a catalytic converter into pyrolysis installation reduced the CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from paddy field wastes as much as 14.5, 17.8 and 11.1%, respectively. Incorporation of EFB compost did not increase greenhouse gas emission from oil palm fields. These results suggest that biochar and EFB compost can be practiced to manage agricultural wastes in Indonesia.