For centuries, Balinese people have used a traditional irrigation system to water their rice paddies, that continues to this day. This system alternates between flooding and drying the rice paddies, effectively reducing methane emissions.

Flooded rice fields reduce oxygen levels in the soil, enabling a process called methanogenesis. Drying the soil allows oxygen to enter the soil and inhibits methanogenesis, leading to less methane production.

Furthermore, manual weed control or odrok remains essential in the Balinese farming system.

Together, these traditional practices help maintain soil health and play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This finding is based on the research of I Wayan Alit Artha Wiguna and Stephen Lansing.

Learn more about Odrok and  intermittent irrigation system in this video.