Open AccessProduction, oxidation and emission of methane in rice paddies
Author(s) -
HolzapfelPschorn Annette,
Conrad Ralf,
Seiler Wolfgang
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb01170.x
Subject(s) - paddy field , methanogenesis , methane , atmosphere (unit) , rhizosphere , environmental science , agronomy , brackish water , sulfate , environmental chemistry , chemistry , salinity , geology , biology , ecology , paleontology , physics , organic chemistry , bacteria , thermodynamics
Abstract Production and emission of methane from submerged paddy soil was studied in laboratory rice cultures and in Italian paddy fields. Up to 80% of the CH 4 produced in the paddy soil did not reach the atmosphere but was apparently oxidized in the rhizosphere. CH 4 emission through the rice plants was inhibited by an atmosphere of pure O 2 but was stimulated by an atmosphere of pure N 2 or an atmosphere containing 5% acetylene. Gas bubbles taken from the submerged soil contained up to 60% CH 4 , but only < 1% CH 4 after the bubbles had passed the soil‐water interface or had entered the intercellular gas space system of the rice plants. CH 4 oxidation activities were detected in the oxic surface layer of the submerged paddy soil. Flooding the paddy soil with water containing > 0.15% sea salt (0.01% sulfate) resulted in a strong inhibition of the rates of methanogenesis and a decrease in the rates of CH 4 emission. This result explains the observation of relatively low CH 4 emission rates in rice paddy areas flooded with brackish water.