Rice paddies around the world store a significant amount of carbon in their soils. A study looked at data from over 600 sites in 51 countries and found that paddy soils contain 18 billion tons of carbon. The amount of carbon stored in these soils decreases with higher temperatures and soil pH levels. However, management practices can help increase carbon storage. Despite this, the benefits of storing carbon in paddy soils are often offset by increased methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Overall, rice paddies play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, and managing them properly can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.