Healthy redox has been previously defined as the middle redox potential range in which there is minimal emission of two greenhouse gases: methane under reduced conditions and nitrous oxide under oxidized conditions. Water-saving irrigation techniques for rice which alternate flooding with periodic drainage of soils result in a redox gradient with depth. A pot experiment demonstrated that the redox potential at 10- to 15- cm depth was most relevant to methane emission, while the redox potential at 1- to 3- cm depth was most relevant to nitrous oxide emission. Healthy redox potential was unachievable in soils in pots because the surface layer was oxidized to the point of nitrous oxide production while the subsurface was still reduced enough to produce methane. Incorporation of straw resulted in slower oxidation at 5-cm depth during drainage periods compared to soils with no straw, worsening the problem of methane emission, but decreased nitrous oxide production at the surface due to temporary N immobilization.