AN ESTIMATION OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN CHINA

This paper presents a detailed estimation of methane emissions from ru minant animals, livestock manure, and rice cultivation in China as of 1990. To estimate methane emissions from ruminants in China, emission factors were developed based on China-specific feed energy systems and production characteristics for representative animal types; emissions were estimated to be about 5.796 teragrams (Tg), approximately 7.2% o f global methane from animals in 1990. Emission factors for livestock manure were developed based on the method recommended by the Intergove rnmental Panel on Climate Change, the types of manure management syste ms used, and regional climate characteristics in China. Livestock and poultry manure in China were estimated to account for about 1.249 Tg o f methane emissions or about 5% of global emissions from livestock man ure in 1990; of this amount, swine manure accounted for approximately 82%. Based on the rice cultivation regions, planting patterns, area of land cultivated, field-flooding patterns, and emission rates, methane emissions from rice fields in China were estimated to be 9.189 Tg.