CH₄ emission rates have been measured in an Italian rice paddy between 1984 and 1986, covering three vegetation periods. For these measurements a fully automated, computerized sampling and analyzing system was developed which allowed the simultaneous determination of CH₄ emission rates at 16 different field plots. CH₄ emission rates showed strong diurnal and seasonal variations. Diurnal changes correlated with changes in soil temperature. During the season, CH₄ emission rates showed a first maximum in May–June before tillering and a second maximum in July during the reproductive stage of the rice plants. In 1985 and 1986 two maxima were observed during summer in addition to the first maximum in the rate of CH₄ emission during spring. Application of mineral and/or organic fertilizer strongly influenced the CH₄ emission rates, depending on the type, rate, and mode of fertilizer application. Thus the rates decreased by at most 40% and 60% after fertilization by deep incorporation with 200 kg N/ha urea and 200 kg N/ha ammonium sulfate, respectively. Application of 200 kg N/ha calcium cyanamide led to a reduction of the first maximum of CH₄ emission but caused the second maximum to increase, the overall result being that the seasonally averaged CH₄ emission rate was comparable to that observed in unfertilized fields. Application of rice straw at a rate of 12 t/ha enhanced the rate of CH₄ emission by a factor of 2 compared with the control. Higher application rates of rice straw did not cause a further increase in CH₄ emission. The complete records of CH₄ emissions over three vegetation periods indicate an average seasonal CH₄ emission rate from unfertilized fields of 0.28 g CH₄/m² d, with a range of 0.16–0.38 g CH₄/m² d. Based on this value and applying the observed temperature dependence of the CH₄ emission rates, the global annual CH₄ emission from rice paddies is estimated to be in the range of 50–150 Tg, with a likely average of 100 Tg. This figure represents between 19% and 25% of the global CH₄ emission, indicating that rice paddies are one of the most important individual sources of atmospheric CH₄.