GHG Measurement Guidelines

Field measurements on GHG emissions from rice fields can be conducted through different approaches, but the closed chamber techniques with manual sampling has clearly evolved as a kind of standard used by many research groups around the world. This approach is relatively easy to implement, but the sampling frequency and the number of field sites are limited by extensive labor requirements.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has issued a standardized guidelines for measuring GHG emissions as reference for determination, calculation of GHG emissions in paddy rice production. The Guidelines were published in a Handbook developed by Vietnam’s Institute of Agricultural Environment with support from IRRI, Winrock international, and SNV in 2016. The Handbook provides specific instructions as to preparation for sampling (equipment, selection of location, planning, and observation), sampling procedure, sample transportation and storage, and GHG analysis (environment and capacity requirements, methods, and quality assurance). It gives step-by-step guidance with demonstration photos for users to easily follow. 

Users are also given a template to document and report analysis results in a scientific, concise and informative manner.

Further reading and download

• Handbook on measuring greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice fields in Vietnam 

• Guidelines: Measuring CH4 and N2O Rice Paddy Emissions with Manually Operated Closed Chambers

• Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Managed and Natural Soils