Rice Waste Utilization and Its Carbon Dioxide Emission in Selected Farms in Pangasinan, Philippines

Abstract

Rice wastes i.e. rice straw and hull increase as more rice is produced to feed the increasing population. This study was conducted in Pangasinan, the Philippines’ third largest rice producing province. Three agricultural systems were looked into: Organic Agriculture (OA), Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA), and Conventional Agriculture (CA). Purposive sampling was done in selecting the farms, and systematic sampling in identifying the farmer respondents. Secondary data were gathered from various documents while primary data were taken with the use of questionnaire. Rice wastes generated during the first cropping season were weighed from dumping and milling areas. The equivalent carbon dioxide emitted due to burning or composting rice straw was computed using basic assumptions and formula. It was found out that OA produced the highest amount of rice straw, followed by LEISA. Farmers practicing OA or LEISA fully utilized rice wastes. Organic Agriculture farmers who practiced rice straw composting significantly helped reduce carbon dioxide emission by 54 %. The carbon dioxide emitted from carbonized rice hull was also computed. It is recommended that farmers should be given training on various ways of utilizing rice wastes. Calculations on carbon dioxide emission from burning of rice wastes should also be validated.