Methane uptake rates in Japanese forest soils depend on the oxidation ability of topsoil, with a new estimate for global methane uptake in temperate forest

To clarify the reason for the higher CH₄ uptake rate in Japanese forest soils, twenty-seven sites were established for CH₄ flux measurement. The first order rate constant for CH₄ uptake was also determined using soil core incubation at 14 sites. The CH₄ uptake rate had a seasonal fluctuation, high in summer and low in winter, and the rate correlated with soil temperature at 17 sites. The annual CH₄ uptake rates ranged from 2.7 to 24.8 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ (the average of these rates was 9.7 or 10.9 kg CH₄ ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, depending on method of calculation), which is somewhat higher than the uptake rates reported in previous literature. The averaged CH₄ uptake rate correlated closely with the CH₄ oxidation rate of the topsoil (0–5 cm) in the study sites. The CH₄ oxidation constant of the topsoil was explained by a multiple regression model using total pore volume of the soil, nitrate content, and C/N ratio (p < 0.05, R ² = 0.684). This result and comparison with literature data suggest that the high CH₄ uptake rate in Japanese forest soils depends on the high porosity probably due to volcanic ash parent materials. According to our review of the literature, the CH₄ uptake rate in temperate forests in Europe is significantly different from that in Asia and North America. A new global CH₄ uptake rate in temperate forests was estimated to be 5.4 Tg y⁻¹ (1 SE is 1.1 Tg y⁻¹) on a continental basis.