How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2011 Evaluation of Ecosystem Services Provided by 10 Typical Rice Paddies in China
Xiao Yu, An Kai, Xie Gaodi, Lu Chunxia
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Based on reference review, this study investigated ecosystem services supported by 10 typical rice paddies in six rice planting regions of China. The services were primary production, gas regulation, nitrogen transformation, soil organic matter accumulation, and water regulation and flood control. The results indicated that grain production of the 10 rice paddies was between 4.71 and 12.18 t ha-1 y-1; straw production was 4.65 to 9.79 t ha-1 y-1; gas regulation was calculated to emit O2 ranging from 8.27 to 19.69 t ha-1 y-1 and to assimilate greenhouse gases ranging from -2.13 to 19.24 t ha-1 y-1 (in CO2 equivalent); nitrogen transformation was estimated as nitrogen input ranging from 209.70 to 513.93 kg N ha-1 y-1 and nitrogen output of 112.87 to 332.69 kg N ha-1 y-1; soil organic matter accumulation was calculated to be between 0.69 and 4.88 t C ha-1 y-1; water regulation was estimated to consume water resources of 19875 m3 ha-1 y-1 and to support water resources of 6430 m3 ha-1 y-1; and flood control of several of the rice paddies was calculated to be 1500 m3 ha-1 y-1. The integrated economic value of ecosystem services of these rice paddies was estimated at USD 8605-21 405 ha-1 y-1, of which 74%–89% of the value can be ascribed to ecosystem services outside primary production. The results also indicated that the integrated economic value of the ecosystem services of the 10 rice paddies was higher when nitrogen fertilizer was applied in the range of 275 to 297 kg N ha-1. Until now, the economic value of the rice paddy ecosystem has been underestimated as only the economic value of grain and straw production was previously calculated. As more and more forest land and grassland is lost to urban and industrial use, cropland and especially rice paddies, will become more ecologically important to society. The economic value of ecosystem services supplied by rice paddies, outside primary production, are worthy of increased research attention.

Xiao Yu, An Kai, Xie Gaodi, and Lu Chunxia "Evaluation of Ecosystem Services Provided by 10 Typical Rice Paddies in China," Journal of Resources and Ecology 2(4), 328-337, (1 December 2011). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-764x.2011.04.006
Received: 27 June 2011; Accepted: 1 October 2011; Published: 1 December 2011
KEYWORDS
ecosystem services
gas regulation
nitrogen transformation
rice paddy
soil organic matter accumulation
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top