Abstract

                                Rice cultivation has been recognized as one of the major anthropogenic source for CH4 emissions. Methane emission from rice fields is a microbial mediated anaerobic activity, mainly favoured by the flooded condition. SAR-based operational mapping of rice crop across a diverse range of environments is possible with the increasing availability of multi-temporal SAR satellite data. Precise estimation of methane emission from rice fields at regional scale depends on accurate assessment of rice area and the corresponding time of flooding in those fields with IPCC emission factor. Start of Season (SoS) map was derived from satellite data showing rice emergence dates in Tiruchirapalli district recording 87 to 121 days of flooding during rice growth period. The rate of methane emission based on IPCC factor ranged from 37.4 to 45.74 kg/ha for a period of 87 to 121 days of flooding. The total methane emission from Tiruchirapalli district was 1.57Gg during Samba season 2015-16.

Key words : Rice, Methane emission, SAR, SoS, IPCC emission factor.