Isotopic insights into methane production,oxidation, and emissions in Arctic polygon tundra

Arctic wetlands are currently net sources of atmospheric CH₄. Due to their complex biogeochemical controls and high spatial and temporal variability, current net CH₄ emissions and gross CH₄ processes have been difficult to quantify, and their predicted responses to climate change remain uncertain. We investigated CH₄ production, oxidation, and surface emissions in Arctic polygon tundra, across a wet‐to‐dry permafrost degradation gradient from low‐centered (intact) to flat‐ and high‐centered (degraded) polygons. From 3 microtopographic positions (polygon centers, rims, and troughs) along the permafrost degradation gradient, we measured surface CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes, concentrations and stable isotope compositions of CH₄ and DIC at three depths in the soil, and soil moisture and temperature. More degraded sites had lower CH₄ emissions, a different primary methanogenic pathway, and greater CH₄ oxidation than did intact permafrost sites, to a greater degree than soil moisture or temperature could explain. Surface CH₄ flux decreased from 64 nmol m^?2 s^?1 in intact polygons to 7 nmol m^?2 s^?1 in degraded polygons, and stable isotope signatures of CH₄ and DIC showed that acetate cleavage dominated CH₄ production in low‐centered polygons, while CO₂ reduction was the primary pathway in degraded polygons. We see evidence that differences in water flow and vegetation between intact and degraded polygons contributed to these observations. In contrast to many previous studies, these findings document a mechanism whereby permafrost degradation can lead to local decreases in tundra CH₄ emissions.     

The contribution of trees to ecosystem methane emissions in a temperate forested wetland

Wetland‐adapted trees are known to transport soil‐produced methane (CH₄), an important greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, yet seasonal variations and controls on the magnitude of tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions remain unknown for mature forests. We examined the spatial and temporal variability in stem CH₄ emissions in situ and their controls in two wetland‐adapted tree species (Alnus glutinosa and Betula pubescens) located in a temperate forested wetland. Soil and herbaceous plant‐mediated CH₄ emissions from hollows and hummocks also were measured, thus enabling an estimate of contributions from each pathway to total ecosystem flux. Stem CH₄ emissions varied significantly between the two tree species, with Alnus glutinosa displaying minimal seasonal variations, while substantial seasonal variations were observed in Betula pubescens. Trees from each species emitted similar quantities of CH₄ from their stems regardless of whether they were situated in hollows or hummocks. Soil temperature and pore‐water CH₄ concentrations best explained annual variability in stem emissions, while wood‐specific density and pore‐water CH₄ concentrations best accounted for between‐species variations in stem CH₄ emission. Our study demonstrates that tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions contribute up to 27% of seasonal ecosystem CH₄ flux in temperate forested wetland, with the largest relative contributions occurring in spring and winter. Tree‐mediated CH₄ emissions currently are not included in trace gas budgets of forested wetland. Further work is required to quantify and integrate this transport pathway into CH₄ inventories and process‐based models.     

The processes of methane production and oxidation in the soils of the Russian Arctic tundra

Methane emission from the following types of tundra soils was studied: coarse humic gleyey loamy cryo soil, peaty gleyey soil, and peaty gleyey midloamy cryo soil of the arctic tundra. All the soils studied were found to be potential sources of atmospheric methane. The highest values of methane emission were recorded in August at a soil temperature of 8–10°C. Flooded parcels were the sources of atmospheric methane throughout the observation period. The rates of methane production and oxidation in tundra soils of various types were studied by the radioisotope method at 5 and 15°C. Methane oxidation was found to occur in bog water, in the green part of peat moss, and in all the soil horizons studied. Methane production was recorded in the horizons of peat, in clay with plant roots, and in peaty moss dust of the bogey parcels. At both temperatures, the methane oxidation rate exceeded the rate of methane production in all the horizons of the mossy-lichen tundra and of the hillock tundra with flat-bottom depressions. Methanogenesis prevailed only in a sedge-peat moss bog at 15°C. Bacterial enrichment cultures oxidizing methane at 5 and 15°C were obtained. Different types of methanotrophic bacteria were shown to be responsible for methane oxidation under these conditions. A representative of type I methylotrophs oxidized methane at 5°C, and Methylocella tundrae, a psychroactive representative of an acidophilic methanotrophic genus Methylocella, at 15°C.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 2, 2005, pp. 261–270.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Berestovskaya, Rusanov, Vasileva, Pimenov.     

Methane production and methane consumption: a review of processes underlying wetland methane fluxes

Potential rates of both methane production and methane consumptionvary over three orders of magnitude and their distribution is skew.These rates are weakly correlated with ecosystem type, incubationtemperature, in situ aeration, latitude, depth and distanceto oxic/anoxic interface. Anaerobic carbon mineralisation is amajor control of methane production. The large range in anaerobicCH₄:CO₂ production rates indicate that a largepart of the anaerobically mineralised carbon is used for reduction ofelectron acceptors, and, hence, is not available for methanogenesis.Consequently, cycling of electron acceptors needs to be studied tounderstand methane production. Methane and oxygen half saturationconstants for methane oxidation vary about one order of magnitude.Potential methane oxidation seems to be correlated withmethanotrophic biomass. Therefore, variation in potential methaneoxidation could be related to site characteristics with a model ofmethanotrophic biomass.     

The positive net radiative greenhouse gas forcing of increasing methane emissions from a thawing boreal forest‐wetland landscape

At the southern margin of permafrost in North America, climate change causes widespread permafrost thaw. In boreal lowlands, thawing forested permafrost peat plateaus (‘forest’) lead to expansion of permafrost‐free wetlands (‘wetland’). Expanding wetland area with saturated and warmer organic soils is expected to increase landscape methane (CH₄) emissions. Here, we quantify the thaw‐induced increase in CH₄ emissions for a boreal forest‐wetland landscape in the southern Taiga Plains, Canada, and evaluate its impact on net radiative forcing relative to potential long‐term net carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange. Using nested wetland and landscape eddy covariance net CH₄ flux measurements in combination with flux footprint modeling, we find that landscape CH₄ emissions increase with increasing wetland‐to‐forest ratio. Landscape CH₄ emissions are most sensitive to this ratio during peak emission periods, when wetland soils are up to 10 °C warmer than forest soils. The cumulative growing season (May–October) wetland CH₄ emission of ~13 g CH₄ m^?2 is the dominating contribution to the landscape CH₄ emission of ~7 g CH₄ m^?2. In contrast, forest contributions to landscape CH₄ emissions appear to be negligible. The rapid wetland expansion of 0.26 ± 0.05% yr^?1 in this region causes an estimated growing season increase of 0.034 ± 0.007 g CH₄ m^?2 yr^?1 in landscape CH₄ emissions. A long‐term net CO₂ uptake of >200 g CO₂ m^?2 yr^?1 is required to offset the positive radiative forcing of increasing CH₄ emissions until the end of the 21st century as indicated by an atmospheric CH₄ and CO₂ concentration model. However, long‐term apparent carbon accumulation rates in similar boreal forest‐wetland landscapes and eddy covariance landscape net CO₂ flux measurements suggest a long‐term net CO₂ uptake between 49 and 157 g CO₂ m^?2 yr^?1. Thus, thaw‐induced CH₄ emission increases likely exert a positive net radiative greenhouse gas forcing through the 21st century.     

Seasonal variation in methane emission from a temperate Phragmites-dominated marsh: effect of growth stage and plant-mediated transport

The eddy covariance technique was employed with a tunable diode laser spectrometer to quantify methane flux from a prairie marsh dominated by Phragmites australis in north-central Nebraska, USA. The observations spanned the entire growing season (April to October) and a wide range of weather conditions, allowing a quantitative assessment of the physical and biological controls of methane emission in this ecosystem. Diel patterns in methane emission varied markedly depending on plant growth stage. Prior to plant emergence above water, the rate of methane emission from the marsh was fairly constant throughout the day. After emergence above water, there was a gradual increase in methane emission after sunrise with a peak in late afternoon. Significant changes in diel patterns were observed after tillering. Then, the diel pattern was characterized by a mid- to late-morning peak and a 2-to 4-fold increase in methane emissions from night to daytime. In early stages of plant growth, molecular diffusion through dead/live plants and the standing water column seemed to be the primary transport mechanism. After tillering, a transition occurred in the transport mechanism from a molecular diffusion to a convective throughflow, which is a rapid and active gas transport driven by pressure differences. The role of convective throughflow became less important as the plants senesced. Integrated methane emission over the six-month measurement period (April–October) was about 64 g CH₄ m^–2. On an annual basis, we estimate the annual methane emission from this ecosystem to be ≈ 80 g CH₄ m^–2 and that about 80% of the total methane emission occurred between late April and late October.     

基于过程模型的青藏高原湿地甲烷排放格局评估

甲烷(CH₄)是大气中最丰富的碳氢化合物,是仅次于二氧化碳(CO₂)的温室气体。湿地是甲烷的重要来源,在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用,其排放的甲烷占所有天然甲烷排放源的70%,占全球甲烷排放总量的24.8%。青藏高原平均海拔4000 m以上,占有中国约三分之一的湿地。近几十年来,由于全球气候变暖和降水增加,该地区甲烷排放率和湿地面积都发生着巨大变化,因此,青藏高原湿地CH₄排放的长期变化在很大程度上仍存在较大的不确定性。利用TRIPLEX-GHG模型模拟了青藏高原湿地1978—2008年CH₄排放的动态特征,研究结果表明:(1)1978—2008年青藏高原湿地CH₄排放速率呈逐渐增加趋势。(2)青藏高原大多数湿地区域CH₄排放速率为0—6.13 g CH₄ m^-2 a^-1;东北部分湿地区域CH₄排放速率为6.14—20.19 g CH₄ m^...     

Oxygen effects on methane production and oxidation in humid tropical forest soils

We investigated the effects of oxygen (O₂) concentration on methane (CH₄) production and oxidation in two humid tropical forests that differ in long‐term, time‐averaged soil O₂ concentrations. We identified sources and sinks of CH₄ through the analysis of soil gas concentrations, surface emissions, and carbon isotope measurements. Isotope mass balance models were used to calculate the fraction of CH₄ oxidized in situ. Complementary laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effects of O₂ concentration on gross and net rates of methanogenesis. Field and laboratory experiments indicated that high levels of CH₄ production occurred in soils that contained between 9±1.1% and 19±0.2% O₂. For example, we observed CH₄ concentrations in excess of 3% in soils with 9±1.1% O₂. CH₄ emissions from the lower O₂ sites were high (22–101 nmol CH₄ m^?2 s^?1), and were equal in magnitude to CH₄ emissions from natural wetlands. During peak periods of CH₄ efflux, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions became enriched in ¹³C because of high methanogenic activity. Gross CH₄ production was probably greater than flux measurements indicated, as isotope mass balance calculations suggested that 48–78% of the CH₄ produced was oxidized prior to atmospheric egress. O₂ availability influenced CH₄ oxidation more strongly than methanogenesis. Gross CH₄ production was relatively insensitive to O₂ concentrations in laboratory experiments. In contrast, methanotrophic bacteria oxidized a greater fraction of total CH₄ production with increasing O₂ concentration, shifting the δ¹³C composition of CH₄ to values that were more positive. Isotopic measurements suggested that CO₂ was an important source of carbon for methanogenesis in humid forests. The δ¹³C value of methanogenesis was between ?84‰ and ?98‰, which is well within the range of CH₄ produced from CO₂ reduction, and considerably more depleted in ¹³C than CH₄ formed from acetate.     

Methane emissions from rice microcosms: The balance of production, accumulation and oxidation

In rice microcosms (Oryza sativa, var. Roma, type japonica),CH₄ emission, CH₄ production, CH₄oxidation and CH₄ accumulation were measured over an entirevegetation period. Diffusive CH₄ emission was measured inclosed chambers, CH₄ production was measured in soil samples,CH₄ oxidation was determined from the difference between oxicand anoxic emissions, and CH₄ accumulation was measured byanalysis of porewater and gas bubbles. The sum of diffusiveCH₄ emission, CH₄ oxidation, andCH₄ accumulation was only 60% of the cumulativeCH₄ production. The two values diverged during the first 50days (vegetative phase) and then again during the last 50 days (latereproductive phase and senescence) of the 150 day vegetation period. Duringthe period of day 50–100 (early reproductive phase/flowering), theprocesses were balanced. Most likely, gas bubbles and diffusion limitationare responsible for the divergence in the early and late phases. The effectof rice on CH₄ production rates and CH₄concentrations was studied by measuring these processes also in unplantedmicrocosms. Presence of rice plants lowered the CH₄concentrations, but had no net effect on the CH₄ productionrates.     

Nongrowing season methane emissions–a significant component of annual emissions across northern ecosystems

Wetlands are the single largest natural source of atmospheric methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas, and occur extensively in the northern hemisphere. Large discrepancies remain between “bottom‐up” and “top‐down” estimates of northern CH₄ emissions. To explore whether these discrepancies are due to poor representation of nongrowing season CH₄ emissions, we synthesized nongrowing season and annual CH₄ flux measurements from temperate, boreal, and tundra wetlands and uplands. Median nongrowing season wetland emissions ranged from 0.9 g/m² in bogs to 5.2 g/m² in marshes and were dependent on moisture, vegetation, and permafrost. Annual wetland emissions ranged from 0.9 g m^?2 year^?1 in tundra bogs to 78 g m^?2 year^?1 in temperate marshes. Uplands varied from CH₄ sinks to CH₄ sources with a median annual flux of 0.0 ± 0.2 g m^?2 year^?1. The measured fraction of annual CH₄ emissions during the nongrowing season (observed: 13% to 47%) was significantly larger than that was predicted by two process‐based model ensembles, especially between 40° and 60°N (modeled: 4% to 17%). Constraining the model ensembles with the measured nongrowing fraction increased total nongrowing season and annual CH₄ emissions. Using this constraint, the modeled nongrowing season wetland CH₄ flux from >40° north was 6.1 ± 1.5 Tg/year, three times greater than the nongrowing season emissions of the unconstrained model ensemble. The annual wetland CH₄ flux was 37 ± 7 Tg/year from the data‐constrained model ensemble, 25% larger than the unconstrained ensemble. Considering nongrowing season processes is critical for accurately estimating CH₄ emissions from high‐latitude ecosystems, and necessary for constraining the role of wetland emissions in a warming climate.     

Prediction of enteric methane production,yield, and intensity in dairy cattle using an intercontinental database

Enteric methane (CH₄) production from cattle contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Measurement of enteric CH₄ is complex, expensive, and impractical at large scales; therefore, models are commonly used to predict CH₄ production. However, building robust prediction models requires extensive data from animals under different management systems worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (1) collate a global database of enteric CH₄ production from individual lactating dairy cattle; (2) determine the availability of key variables for predicting enteric CH₄ production (g/day per cow), yield [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)], and intensity (g/kg energy corrected milk) and their respective relationships; (3) develop intercontinental and regional models and cross‐validate their performance; and (4) assess the trade‐off between availability of on‐farm inputs and CH₄ prediction accuracy. The intercontinental database covered Europe (EU), the United States (US), and Australia (AU). A sequential approach was taken by incrementally adding key variables to develop models with increasing complexity. Methane emissions were predicted by fitting linear mixed models. Within model categories, an intercontinental model with the most available independent variables performed best with root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) as a percentage of mean observed value of 16.6%, 14.7%, and 19.8% for intercontinental, EU, and United States regions, respectively. Less complex models requiring only DMI had predictive ability comparable to complex models. Enteric CH₄ production, yield, and intensity prediction models developed on an intercontinental basis had similar performance across regions, however, intercepts and slopes were different with implications for prediction. Revised CH₄ emission conversion factors for specific regions are required to improve CH₄ production estimates in national inventories. In conclusion, information on DMI is required for good prediction, and other factors such as dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, improve the prediction. For enteric CH₄ yield and intensity prediction, information on milk yield and composition is required for better estimation.     

Nitrogen utilisation,energy utilisation and methane emissions of sheep grazing in two types of pasture

Livestock grazing plays a significant role in maintaining grasslands and promoting animal production globally. To understand the livestock performance in sown pasture (SP) vs native pasture (NP) is important to ensure more effective grassland-livestock interactions with minimal environmental impact. A 2 (treatment) * 2 (period) Latin Square design experiment was conducted with 10 growing Hu sheep ♂ × thin-tailed Han sheep ♀ rams grazed perennially SP vs NP in an inland arid region of China. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of grazing management on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) and energy utilisation and methane (CH₄) emission. The N intake, N retained and energy intake (gross energy (GE), and digestible and metabolisable energy) of sheep grazing in SP were significantly increased compared with those grazing in NP. There were significant linear relationships between DM intake (DMI) (g/kg BW or g/kg BW^0.75) or CH₄ (g/kg BW or g/kg BW^0.75) emissions and forage nutrient and GE concentrations within each grassland type. The linear regression analysis indicated that forage CP or ether extract concentration was a good predictor for DMI (g/kg BW or g/kg BW^0.75) (R² = 0.756 or 0.752), and CH₄ emission could be predicted using forage nutrient and GE concentrations (R² = 0.381–0.503). These results suggest that DMI and CH₄ emissions per unit metabolic BW were accurately predicted by multiple-factor combinations of forage nutrients, including ether extract and CP paired with GE. The present output could provide useful information for the development of sustainable sheep grazing systems in the inland arid regions of the world.     

闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放化学计量比

为了阐明河口潮汐湿地碳源温室气体排放的化学计量比特征,对闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放进行了测定与分析。结果表明:芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地二氧化碳与甲烷排放均呈现正相关;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4月平均值分别为55.4和185.0,96.3和305.5,68.7和648.6,3个过程芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4差异均不显著(P>0.05),2种植物湿地CO2∶CH4对潮汐的响应并不一致,但均在涨潮前表现为最低;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后均表现为芦苇湿地CO2∶CH4低于短叶茳芏湿地(P<0.05);河口潮汐湿地CO2∶CH4为空间变异性>时间变异性,潮汐、植物和温度均对CO2∶CH4的变化具有一定的调节作用。     

陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化过程的微生物机理

陆地生态系统存在许多常年性或季节性缺氧环境,如:湿地、水稻土、湖泊沉积物、动物瘤胃、垃圾填埋场和厌氧生物反应器等。每年有大量有机物质进入这些环境,在缺氧条件下发生厌氧分解。甲烷是有机质厌氧分解的最终产物。产生的甲烷气体可通过缺氧-有氧界面释放到大气,产生温室效应,是重要的温室气体。产甲烷过程是缺氧环境中有机质分解的核心环节,而甲烷氧化是缺氧-有氧界面的重要微生物过程。甲烷的产生和氧化过程共同调控大气甲烷浓度,是全球碳循环不可分割的组成部分。对陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化过程的微生物机理研究进展进行了概要回顾和综述。主要内容包括:新型产甲烷古菌即第六和第七目产甲烷古菌和嗜冷嗜酸产甲烷古菌的发现;短链脂肪酸中间产物互营氧化过程与直接种间电子传递机制;新型甲烷氧化菌包括厌氧甲烷氧化菌和疣微菌属好氧甲烷氧化菌的发现;甲烷氧化菌生理生态与环境适应的新机制。这些研究进展显著拓展了人们对陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化机理的认识和理解。随着新一代土壤微生物研究技术的发展与应用,甲烷产生和氧化微生物研究领域将面临更多机遇和挑战,对未来发展趋势做了展望。     

Estimation of the maintenance energy requirements,methane emissions and nitrogen utilization efficiency of two suckler cow genotypes

Seventeen non-lactating dairy-bred suckler cows (LF; Limousin×Holstein-Friesian) and 17 non-lactating beef composite breed suckler cows (ST; Stabiliser) were used to study enteric methane emissions and energy and nitrogen (N) utilization from grass silage diets. Cows were housed in cubicle accommodation for 17 days, and then moved to individual tie-stalls for an 8-day digestibility balance including a 2-day adaption followed by immediate transfer to an indirect, open-circuit, respiration calorimeters for 3 days with gaseous exchange recorded over the last two of these days. Grass silage was offered ad libitum once daily at 0900 h throughout the study. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the genotypes for energy intakes, energy outputs or energy use efficiency, or for methane emission rates (methane emissions per unit of dry matter intake or energy intake), or for N metabolism characteristics (N intake or N output in faeces or urine). Accordingly, the data for both cow genotypes were pooled and used to develop relationships between inputs and outputs. Regression of energy retention against ME intake (r²=0.52; P<0.001) indicated values for net energy requirements for maintenance of 0.386, 0.392 and 0.375 MJ/kg^0.75 for LF+ST, LF and ST respectively. Methane energy output was 0.066 of gross energy intake when the intercept was omitted from the linear equation (r²=0.59; P<0.001). There were positive linear relationships between N intake and N outputs in manure, and manure N accounted for 0.923 of the N intake. The present results provide approaches to predict maintenance energy requirement, methane emission and manure N output for suckler cows and further information is required to evaluate their application in a wide range of suckler production systems.     

铁炉渣施加对稻田甲烷产生、氧化与排放的影响

为了阐明铁炉渣施加对稻田甲烷产生、氧化与排放的影响,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对对照(CK)、2 Mg/hm2(FeⅠ)、4Mg/hm2(FeⅡ)和8 Mg/hm2(FeⅢ)铁炉渣施加后稻田甲烷产生、氧化与排放进行了测定与分析.研究结果表明:观测期内,CK、Fe Ⅰ、FeⅡ和FeⅢ样地甲烷产生量分别为0.06-8.87、0.12-8.28、0.15-7.84、0.17-7.82 mg·m-2·h-1,平均产生量分别为4.68、3.92、3.14、2.76 mg·m-2·h-1;甲烷氧化量分别是0.02-1.27、0.09-0.95、0.09-1.54、0.09-2.79 mg·m-2·h-1,平均氧化量为0.46、0.47、0.59、0.55 mg·m-2·h-1;甲烷排放分别是0.04-7.99、0.03-7.33、0.06-6.30、0.08-5.12 mg· m-2·h-1,平均值分别为3.11、2.29、1.76、1.59 mg·m-2·h-1.铁炉渣的施加降低了甲烷产生量和排放通量,提高了甲烷氧化量.     

Production and oxidation of methane in a boreal mire after a decade of increased temperature and nitrogen and sulfur deposition

Natural wetlands are the single largest source of atmospheric methane (CH₄). Both a changed climate and deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen and sulfur can alter the production and oxidation of CH₄ respectively and thereby also CH₄ exchange. We used a long‐term (12 years) factorial field experiment in a boreal oligotrophic mire to evaluate the effects of greenhouse cover and addition of ammonium nitrate and sodium sulfate on the production and oxidation of CH₄ by applying laboratory incubations of samples from five depths in the mire. The rates of CH₄ production were measured without amendments and after the addition of either glucose or sulfate. Twelve years of increased nitrogen deposition has changed the mire from a Sphagnum‐dominated plant community to one dominated by sedges and dwarf shrubs. The deposition of nitrogen to the field plots caused increased production of CH₄ in incubations without amendments (34%), and also after amendments with glucose (40%) or sulfate (42%). This indicates increased substrate availability (without amendments) but also a greater abundance of methanogens (glucose amendment). The greenhouse cover caused a decrease in CH₄ production in incubations without amendments (34%), after glucose amendment (20%) and after sulfate amendment (31%). These responses indicate decreased substrate availability (without amendment) accompanied by the reduced abundance of methanogens (glucose amendment). The field application of sulfur had no effect on CH₄ production at the depth where maximal CH₄ production occurred. Closer to the mire surface, however, the rate of CH₄ production was significantly reduced by 32–45%. These results suggest that the deposition of sulfate has altered the vertical distribution of methanogens and sulfate‐reducing bacteria. The oxidation of CH₄ was not significantly affected by any of the long‐term field treatments.     

Effect of rice plants on CH4 production,transport, oxidation and emission in rice paddy soil

To understand the integrated effects of rice plants (variety Wuyugeng 2) on CH₄ emission during the typical rice growth stage, the production, oxidation and emission of methane related to rice plants were investigated simultaneously through laboratory and greenhouse experiments. CH₄ emission was significantly higher from the rice planted treatment than from the unplanted treatment. In the rice planted treatment, CH₄ emission was higher at tillering stage than at panicle initiation stage. An average of 36.3% and 54.7% of CH₄ produced was oxidized in the rhizosphere at rice tillering stage and panicle initiation stage, respectively, measured by using methyl fluoride (MF) technique. In the meantime, CH₄ production in the planted treatments incubated under O₂-free N₂ condition was reduced by 44.9 and 22.3%, respectively, compared to unplanted treatment. On the contrary, the presence of rice plants strongly stimulated CH₄ production by approximately 72.3% at rice ripening stage. CH₄ emission through rice plants averaged 95% at the tillering stage and 89% at the panicle initiation stage. Based on these results, conclusions are drawn that higher CH₄ emission from the planted treatment than from unplanted treatment could be attributed to the function of rice plants for transporting CH₄ from belowground to the atmosphere at tillering and panicle initiation stage, and that a higher CH₄ emission at tillering stage than at panicle initiation stage is due to the lower rhizospheric CH₄ oxidation and more effective transport mediated by rice plants.     

Release of fossil methane from mineral soil particles, and its implication for estimation of methane oxidation in a mineral subsoil

In a preliminary experiment we found that methane evolved from a sandy subsoil during aerobic incubation of shaken soil slurries. In the study presented here the methane was found to be released from the sand particles by mechanical weathering, caused by the grinding effect of the shaking. Large amounts of gas (about 0.5 ml gas g^–1 soil) were extracted by intense grinding of the soil in gas tight serum vials. Methane was the main hydrocarbon in the emitted gas, but also a considerable amount of ethane was present, as well as minor amounts of heavier hydrocarbons (up to C₆). The ¹³C-values of the emitted methane and ethane were –33 and –29 , respectively. Together these results demonstrate a thermogenic origin of the gas. This paper also reports the results of an incubation experiment where possible methane oxidation was looked for. If a possible release of methane is not accounted for, methane oxidation may be overlooked, as illustrated in this paper. Methane consumption was detected only in soil from 40 cm, in contrast to soil sampled at 100 cm and deeper where a slight production was measured. When methane oxidation was inhibited by dimethyl-ether, a significant release of methane was seen. The release was probably caused by chemical weathering. When this methane release was taken into account, methane oxidation was found to be present at all measured depths (40 to 200 cm). Fertilization with urea inhibited the methane oxidation at 40 cm but not at deeper layers. It is hypothesized that ammonia oxidizing bacteria were the main methane oxidizers in this mineral subsoil (deeper than 1 m), and that oxidation of methane might be a survival mechanism for ammonia oxidizers in ammonia limited environments.