Fertilizer effects on methane emission from Chinese rice fields were investigated by a praxis‐oriented approach applying balanced amendments of N, P and K. The data set obtained covered the emission rates of app. one month in early rice and one month in late rice 1991. An intercomparison between the 4 treatments showed pronounced differences in the magnitudes of methane emission rates. The combined organic/mineral fertilizer application, commonly used as local farming practice, resulted in relatively high seasonal averages of methane emission rates (26.5 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 in early rice and 50.1 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 in late rice). The lowest emission rates were observed in the plot with pure mineral fertilization (6.5 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 in early rice and 14.3 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 in late rice). Pure organic fertilizers by unfermented substances yielded the highest methane emission rates of all field trials (38.6 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 in early rice and 56.2 CH4 m−2 h−1 in late rice). The fertilization with fermented material derived from biogas generators resulted in substantially lower emission rates than the other trials with organic amendments, the seasonal averages corresponded to 15.9 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 (early rice) and 22.5 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 (late rice). Interpretation of the results can be obtained from the different potentials of these fertilizers for methane production. Based on this concept the different methane emission rates observed with organic/mineral, pure mineral and pure unfermented‐organic fertilizers could directly be attributed to the different quantities of organic matter incorporated into the soil. The low methane emission from the plot treated with fermented material could be explained by a depletion of potential methane precursors resulting from the preceding fermentation. The results of this investigation provide evidence that the extensive use of specific chemical fertilizers and the application of sludge from the operation of biogas generators could lead to a net reduction of the methane emission from rice fields.

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