Mitigated CH4 and N2O emissions and improved irrigation water use efficiency in winter wheat field with surface drip irrigation in the North China Plain

•We studied greenhouse gas emissions of winter wheat agro-ecosystem responses to different irrigation methods in the North China Plain.•Surface drip irrigation could not only keep yield steady, but also increase CH4 uptake, reduce N2O emission and improve IWUE.

Effects of different irrigation methods on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in winter wheat field are poorly understood. In this study, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were investigated in winter wheat field irrigated with surface drip irrigation (SDI), sprinkler irrigation (SI) and flood irrigation (CK) from 1 April to 31 May of 2014 in the North China Plain. The results showed that SDI increased CH4 uptake by 22.9%, reduced N2O emission by 14.6%, improved irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 44.2%, and could keep yield steady. IWUE and yield of winter wheat in SI was greater than that in CK by 28.2% and 8.5%, respectively. These combined results indicated that SDI may not only guarantee yield stability, but also mitigate GHG (CH4 and N2O) emissions and improve IWUE. Therefore, more attention should be paid to apply SDI in winter wheat field in the North China Plain.