Methane consumption in temperate and subarctic forest soils: Rates, vertical zonation, and responses to water and nitrogen

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
• Main Authors: Adamsen, A. P.S., King, G. M.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: LSU Digital Commons 1993
• Subjects: Subarctic
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/biosci_pubs/2036; https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.59.2.485-490.1993; https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/context/biosci_pubs/article/3035/viewcontent/2036.pdf

Rates of methane consumption were measured in subarctic coniferous and temperate mixed-hardwood forest soils, using static chambers and intact soil cores. Rates at both sites were generally between 1 and 3 mg of CH4 m-2 day-1 and decreased with increasing soil water contents above 20%. Addition of ammonium (1 μmol g of soil-1) strongly inhibited methane oxidation in the subarctic soils; a lesser inhibition was observed for temperate forest samples. The response to nitrogen additions occurred within a few hours and was probably due to physiological changes in the active methane-consuming populations. Methane consumption in soils from both sites was stratified vertically, with a pronounced subsurface maximum. This maximum was coincident with low levels of both nitrate and ammonium in the mixed-hardwood forest soil.