Oxygen profiles and methane turnover in a flooded rice microcosm

Summary Dissolved O₂ was depleted within the top 3.5-mm surface layer of flooded rice soil microcosms without plants. In planted microcosms, however, O₂ was detectable down to at least 40 mm in depth. O₂ concentrations in the uppermost soil layers of microcosms with rice plants were higher in the light than in the dark, indicating O₂ production by photosynthesis. The CH₄ emission rates were nearly identical for illuminated and for darkened microcosms, demonstrating that the photosynthetically produced O₂ did not increase CH₄ oxidation in the rhizosphere. In contrast, CH₄ emission rates increased when the microcosms were incubated under an N₂ atmosphere, indicating that transport of O₂ from the atmosphere into the rhizosphere was important for CH₄ oxidation. CH₄ emission under air accounted for only 10%–20% of the cumulative CH₄ production determined in cores taken from the microcosms. Apparently, 80%–90% of the CH₄ produced was oxidized in the rhizosphere and thus was not emitted.     

Methanotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere of rice microcosms and their effect on porewater methane concentration and methane emission

CH₄ emission from irrigated rice field is one of the major sources in the global budget of atmoshperic CH₄. Rates of CH₄ emission depend on both CH₄ production in anoxic parts of the soil and on CH₄ oxidation at oxic-anoxic interfaces. In the present study we used planted and unplanted rice microcosms and characterized them by numbers of CH₄-oxidizing bacteria (MOB), porewater CH₄ and O₂ concentrations and CH₄ fluxes. Plant roots had a stimulating effect on both the number of total soil bacteria and CH₄-oxidizing bacteria as determined by fluorescein isothiocyanate fluorescent staining and the most probable number technique, respectively. In the rhizosphere and on the root surface CH₄-oxidizing bacteria were enriched during the growth period of tice, while their numbers remained constant in unplanted soils. In the presence of rice plants, the porewater CH₄ concentration was significantly lower, with 0.1–0.4mM CH₄, than in unplanted microcosms, with 0.5–0.7mM CH₄. O₂ was detected at depths of up to 16 mm in planted microcosms, whereas it had disappeared at a depth of 2 mm in the unplanted experiments. CH₄ oxidation was determined as the difference between the CH₄ emission rates under oxic (air) and anoxic (N₂) headspace, and by inhibition experiments with C₂H₂. Flux measurements showed varying oxic emission rates of between 2.5 and 29.0 mmol CH₄m^-2 day^-1. An average of 34% of the anoxically emitted CH₄ was oxidized in the planted microcosms, which was surprisingly constant. The rice rhizosphere appeared to be an important oxic-anoxic interface, significantly reducing CH₄ emission.     

Effect of potassium phosphate fertilization on production and emission of methane and its C-stable isotope composition in rice microcosms

Rice fields are an important source for atmospheric CH₄, but the effects of fertilization are not well known. We studied the turnover of CH₄ in rice soil microcosms without and with addition of potassium phosphate. Height and tiller number of rice plants were higher in the fertilized than in the unfertilized microcosms. Emission rates of CH₄ were also higher, but porewater concentrations of CH₄ were lower. The δ¹³C values of the emitted CH₄ and of the CH₄ in the porewater were both 2-6% higher in the fertilized microcosms than in the control. Potassium phosphate did not affect rate and isotopic signature of CH₄ production in anoxic soil slurries. On the other hand, roots retrieved from fertilized microcosms at the end of incubation exhibited slightly higher CH₄ production rates and slightly higher CH₄-δ¹³C values compared to roots from unfertilized plants. Addition of potassium phosphate to excised rice roots generally inhibited CH₄ production and resulted in increasingly lower δ¹³C values of the produced CH₄. Fractionation of ¹³C during plant ventilation (i.e. δ¹³C in pore water CH₄ versus CH₄ emitted) was larger in the fertilized microcosms than in the control. Besides plant ventilation, this difference may also have been caused by CH₄ oxidation in the rhizosphere. However, calculation from the isotopic data showed that less than 27% of the produced CH₄ was oxidized. Collectively, our results indicate that potassium phosphate fertilization stimulated CH₄ emission by enhancing root methanogenesis, plant ventilation and/or CH₄ oxidation, resulting in residence times of CH₄ in the porewater in the order of hours.     

Nitrous oxide and methane transport through rice plants

The separate closed chamber technique was used to study the potential of rice plants for transporting N₂O and CH₄ produced in soil to the atmosphere. The results indicate that N₂O produced in soil can be conducted to the atmosphere via rice plants similarly to CH₄ transport. More than 80% of both N₂O and CH₄ was emitted through rice plants. The rest was emitted through the soil/water/atmosphere interface by ebullition and diffusion. Nitrate addition increased the total N₂O emission rate substantially but decreased the total CH₄ emission. Nitrate addition did not change the CH₄ emission ratio through rice plants, but lowered the percentage of N₂O emission through rice plants. The results suggest that rice plants serve not only as a conduit for most of the CH₄ leaving the soil but also for the N₂O produced in the soil. Received: 31 January 1996     

The role of rice plants in regulating mechanisms of methane missions

 Rice plants play a pivotal role in different levels of the methane (CH₄) budget of rice fields. CH₄ production in rice fields largely depends on plant-borne material that can be either decaying tissue or root exudates. The quantity and quality of root exudates is affected by mechanical impedance, presence of toxic elements, nutrient deficiencies, water status of growing medium, and nitrogenase activity in the rhizosphere. CH₄ oxidation in rice fields is localized in the rhizosphere where the concentration gradients of CH₄ and oxygen overlap. CH₄ oxidation capacity is a function of the downward transport of oxygen through the aerenchyma, which, in turn, also acts as a conduit for CH₄ from the soil to the atmosphere. The decisive step in the passage of CH₄ through rice plant is the transition from root to stem. However, rice plants show an enormous variety of morphological and physiological properties, including differences in root exudation and gas transfer capacity. Comparative studies on different cultivars are deemed crucial for accomplishing a better understanding of the mechanisms of CH₄ consumption in the rhizosphere and CH₄ transport through the rice plant as well as the interaction of these processes. The results of such studies are considered tools for devising mitigation options. Received: 7 April 1999     

Effects of inorganic fertilizers and micronutrients on methane production from wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

We compared the effects of adding different forms of nitrogenous fertilizers on the production of CH₄ in soil and on CH₄ emission from rice plants, Urea and diammonium phosphate gave the highest rates of CH₄ production from the soil and emission through rice plants, followed by (NH₄)₂SO₄. NaNO₃ was the least effective. The effects of micronutrients like Mo, Ni, or B were more prominent than those of Fe, Mn, Zn, V, or Co. It is concluded that CH₄ emission from rice paddies is influenced by both macro- and micronutrients, through effects on both microbial methanogenesis in soil and elimination through rice plants as a consequence of the effects on plant growth.     

Nitrous oxide and methane emissions during rice growth and through rice plants: effect of dicyandiamide and hydroquinone

There is growing interest in N₂O and CH₄ transport through rice plants, but very little information is available on the effects of inhibitors on these gaseous emissions during rice growth and through rice plants. The closed chamber technique was used to study the effect of the urease inhibitor hydroquinone (HQ) and the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on N₂O and CH₄ emissions. As rice plants grew, the N₂O emission through rice plants was significantly reduced in all treatments; N₂O emissions were always lower in the presence than in the absence of inhibitor(s). These variations paralleled those in NO₃^--N content of fresh rice plants. During the rice growth period, increasing NO₃^--N content in rice plants paralleled the increase in the N₂O emission through rice plants. Hence, NO₃^--N in young rice plants can substantially contribute to the plant-mediated N₂O flux. A substantial CH₄ emission through rice plants occurred at their vigorous growth stage; CH₄ emissions were always lower in the presence than in the absence of inhibitor(s). Under the experimental conditions, application of DCD, especially of DCD+HQ, could significantly improve the growth of rice, and reduce the emissions of N₂O and CH₄ during rice growth.     

Methane emission from flooded rice fields under irrigated conditions

In a study on CH₄ emission from flooded rice fields under irrigated conditions, fields planted with rice emitted more methane than unplanted fields. The CH₄ efflux in planted plots varied with the rice variety and growth stage and ranged from 4 to 26 mg h^-1m^-2. During the reproductive stage of the rice plants, CH₄ emission was high and the oxidation power of rice roots, in terms of -naphthylamine oxidation, was very low. The CH₄ emission reached a maximum at midday and declined to minimum levels at midnight, irrespective of the rice variety. The peak CH₄ emission at midday was associated with higher solar radiation and higher soil/water temperature.     

Rice yield reduction by chamber enclosure: a possible effect on enhancing methane production

Major rice growth characteristics and grain yield were compared between inside and outside of a chamber coverage area after a seasonal CH₄ and N₂O flux measurement using a closed chamber technique. Results show that only grain yield was significantly (P<0.01) reduced by chamber enclosure. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in plant height, total straw weight, spike length, and average grain weight. Temperature increase during the gas flux measurement was likely the major cause for the observed grain yield decrease by sterilizing rice reproductive organs. Methane flux rates from rice fields were likely overestimated by using closed chamber technique because decreasing grain yield by chamber enclosure may result in more plant photosynthesis products released into soils to enhance CH₄ production. Analyzing CH₄ and CO₂ emission ratio from the rice field, after cutting the above-water part of rice plants, indicated that CH₄–C emission accounted for approximately 13% of the total CO₂ and CH₄–C emission during the major rice growing season.     

Methane oxidation in the soil surface layer of a flooded rice field and the effect of ammonium

Summary The CH₄ flux from intact soil cores of a flooded rice field in Italy was measured under aerobic and anaerobic incubation conditions. The difference between the anaerobic and aerobic CH₄ fluxes was apparently due to CH₄ oxidation in the oxic soil surface layer. This conclusion was supported by measurements of the vertical CH₄ profile in the upper 2-cm layer, and of the V _max of CH₄ oxidation in slurried samples of the soil surface layer. About 80% of the CH₄ was oxidized during its passage through the soil surface layer. CH₄ oxidation was apparently limited by the concentration of CH₄ and/or O₂ in the active surface layer. The addition of ammonium to the water layer on top of the soil core reversibly increased the aerobic CH₄ fluxes due to inhibition of CH₄ oxidation in the soil surface layer.     

Methanogenesis during rice growth as related to the water regime between crop seasons

In a long-term pot experiment with paddy rice, the effect of a wet or dry fallow on methanogenesis was studied during the ninth season. At times of CH₄ measurement, the oxidation of CH₄ was suppressed by C₂H₂. Methanogenesis started earlier in continuously flooded soil and was higher during the entire rice-growing period than in soil kept dry during the fallow and rewetted again before transplanting the rice seedlings. Increased CH₄ emission from the wet fallow treatment was, in contrast to the dry fallow treatment, associated with constantly low redox potentials. The experiment shows that the water regime during the fallow period is important to methanogenesis during the growth of rice plants.     

Influences of indigenous phototrophs on methane emissions from a straw-amended paddy soil

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influences of indigenous phototrophs on methane (CH₄) emissions from a paddy soil where rice straw was incorporated or was surface-applied. During the cultivation, half of the pots were covered with aluminum foil, except for the minimum space for rice plants, to prevent ambient light reaching the floodwater or the soil surface. Growth of oxygen-producing phototrophs was hardly observed in the unilluminated plots, whereas intensive growth of algae, duckweed and hydrophytes was found in the illuminated ones. Plant growth was not affected by the different treatments. Seasonal changes in CH₄ emission determined by a closed chamber method indicated that illumination had no or only minor effects on CH₄ emissions when rice straw was incorporated or was not applied, but significantly reduced CH₄ emissions when rice straw was surface-applied. Methanogenesis occurring in the soil-floodwater interface was further investigated in two lab-scale model experiments measuring methanogenic activity. As a result, more activated methanogenesis was found in the surface-applied rice straw and the soil around the straw compared with the soil incubated without rice straw. The magnitude of the methanogenic activity in the rice straw incubated under illuminated conditions was significantly lower than that incubated in the dark. Consequently, this study demonstrates that methanogenesis in paddy soil occurs even in the soil-floodwater interface if plant residues like rice straw exist, and such methanogenesis is likely to be suppressed by growth of indigenous phototrophs under illumination.     

Effect of the number of tillages in fallow season and fertilizer type on greenhouse gas emission from a rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy field in Ehime,southwestern Japan

Agricultural fields, including rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy fields, constitute one of the major sources of atmospheric methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Organic matter application, such as straw and organic fertilizer, enhances CH₄ emission from paddy fields. In addition, rice straw management after harvest regulates CH₄ emissions in the growing season. The interaction of tillage times and organic fertilizer application on CH₄ and N₂O emissions is largely unknown. Therefore, we studied the effects of fallow-season tillage times and fertilizer types on CH₄ and N₂O emissions in paddy fields in Ehime, southwestern Japan. From November 2011 to October 2013, four treatments, two (autumn and spring) or one (spring) in the first year, or two (autumn and spring) or three (autumn, winter, and spring) in the second year times of tillage with chemical or organic fertilizer application, were established. Gas fluxes were measured by the closed-chamber method. Increasing the number of tillage times from one to two decreased succeeding CH₄ emission and the emission factor for CH₄ (EF_CH4) in the rice-growing season, suggesting that the substrate for CH₄ production was reduced by autumn and spring tillage in the fallow season. Higher EF_CH4 [1.8–2.0 kg carbon (C) ha^?1 d^?1] was observed when more straw was applied (6.9–7.2 Mg ha^?1) in the second year. Organic fertilizer application induced higher CH₄ emission just after the application as basal and supplemental fertilizers, especially at a lower straw application rate. This indicated that EF_CH4 in the organically managed fields should be determined individually. Organic fertilizer application with two tillage times induced N₂O efflux during the rice-growing season in the second year, but N₂O emissions were not affected by winter tillage. Although paddy fields can act as an N₂O sink because of reduced soil conditions when straw application was high, application of organic C and nitrogen as fertilizer can enhance N₂O production by the denitrification process during the growing season, especially in the ripening stage when soil anaerobic conditions became moderate. These results suggest that negative emission factors for N₂O (EF_N2O) can be applied, and EF_N2O of organic fertilizer should be considered during the estimation of N₂O emission in the paddy field.     

不同施肥处理稻田甲烷和氧化亚氮排放特征

采用静态箱－气相色谱法对长期不同施肥处理(NPKS、CK、NPK和NKM)的稻田CH₄和N₂O排放进行了观测。结果表明，稻田CH₄和N₂O排放季节变化规律明显不同，二者排放通量季节变化呈显著负相关(p<0.01)。与单施化肥和CK相比，施用有机肥显著促进CH₄排放，排放量最高的NPKS处理早晚稻田排放量分别是：526.68 kg/hm²和1072.92 kg/hm²。对于N₂O排放，早稻田各处理间差异不显著，NPK处理排放量最大，为1.48 kg/hm²；晚稻田各处理差异极显著(p<0.01)，NPKS处理排放量最大，为1.40 kg/hm²。晚稻田CH₄排放通量和10 cm土层温度及土壤pH值相关极显著(p<0.01)，并与二者存在显著的指数关系。没发现N₂O排放通量与温度及pH值间存在显著相关。稻田CH₄和N₂O排放受多种因素影响，但对全球变暖的贡献率CH₄远大于N₂O。NPKS处理的增温潜势最大，NPK处理的最小。     

Effect of the herbicide butachlor on methane emission and ebullition flux from a direct-seeded flooded rice field

 Application of a commercial formulation of the herbicide butachlor (N-butoxymethyl-2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl acetanilide) at 1 kg a.i. ha^–1 to an alluvial soil planted with direct-seeded flooded rice (cv. Annada), significantly inhibited both crop-mediated emission and ebullition fluxes of methane (CH₄). Over a cropping period of 110 days, the crop-mediated cumulative emission flux of CH₄ was lowered by ∼20% in butachlor-treated field plots compared with that of an untreated control. Concurrently, ebollition flux of CH₄ was also retarded in butachlor-treated field plots by about 81% compared with that of control plots. Significant relationships existed between CH₄ emission and redox potential (E _h) and Fe²⁺ content of the flooded soil. Application of butachlor retarded a drop in soil redox potential as well as accumulation of Fe²⁺ in treated field plots. Methanogenic bacterial population, counted at the maturity stage of the crop, was also low in butachlor-treated plots, indicating both direct and indirect inhibitory effects of butachlor on methanogenic bacterial populations and their activity. Results indicate that butachlor, even at field-application level, can effectively abate CH₄ emission and ebollition from flooded soils planted to rice whilst maintaining grain yield. Received: 15 March 2000     

水稻油菜轮作稻田甲烷排放及其总量估算

利用静态箱/气相色谱法对川中丘陵区水稻油菜轮作稻田进行水稻全生长季CH4排放观测。结果表明,稻田CH4排放有明显的季节变化,呈“前低后高”的变化趋势,CH4排放峰出现在水稻抽穗扬花期;测定期内稻田CH4平均排放通量为6.20mg/m2.h。对影响稻田CH4排放的因素分析发现,淹水条件下水稻移栽到抽穗初期,水稻植株生长是影响稻田CH4排放的关键因素;水稻抽穗期到成熟期,温度是影响稻田CH4排放的关键因素。水稻油菜轮作稻田在水稻生长季中CH排放总量为173.96kg/hm2。     

水稻植株特性对稻田甲烷排放的影响及其机制的研究进展

水稻是我国最主要的口粮作物,稻田是重要温室气体甲烷的主要排放源之一。水稻植株特性既是水稻产量形成的关键因子,也是稻田甲烷排放的主要影响因子。但是,至今关于水稻植株对稻田甲烷排放的调控效应及其机制仍存在许多不一致的认识。为此,本文从形态特征、生理生态特征、植株-环境互作等方面,对现有的相关研究进行了综合论述。水稻地上部形态特征如分蘖数、株高、叶面积等对稻田甲烷排放的影响的研究结果不尽相同,起关键作用的是地下系统。优化光合产物分配在持续淹水的情况下可以减少稻田甲烷排放。提高水稻生物量在低碳土壤增加稻田甲烷排放,但在高碳土壤下降低甲烷排放。本文还明确了相关研究现状和存在的问题。在此基础上,作者认为未来应加强水稻根系形态及其生理特征,以及水稻植株-土壤环境(尤其是水分管理和养分管理)互作对稻田甲烷产生、氧化和排放影响的研究,在方法上应加强微区试验和大田试验的结合,并开展植株和稻田的碳氮互作效应及其机制研究,为高产低碳排放的水稻品种选育和低碳稻作模式创新提供理论参考和技术指导。     

Effect of soil water status and mulching on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> emission from lowland rice field in China

Cultivation of rice in unsaturated soils covered with mulch is receiving more attention in China because of increasingly serious water shortage; however, greenhouse gas emission from this cultivation system is still poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted in 2001 to compare nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emission from rice cultivated in unsaturated soil covered with plastic or straw mulch and the traditional waterlogged production system. Trace gas fluxes from the soil were measured weekly throughout the entire growth period using a closed chamber method. Nitrous oxide emissions from unsaturated rice fields were large and varied considerably during the rice season. They were significantly affected by N fertilizer application rate. In contrast, N₂O emission from the waterlogged system was very low with a maximum of 0.28 mg N₂O m^–2 h^–1. However, CH₄ emission from the waterlogged system was significantly higher than from the unsaturated system, with a maximum emission rate of 5.01 mg CH₄ m^–2 h^–1. Our results suggested that unsaturated rice cultivation with straw mulch reduce greenhouse gas emissions.     

Emissions of CH4, CO2, and N2O from soil at a cattle overwintering area as affected by available C and N

Relationships between CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O emissions were studied in soil that had been freshly amended with large deposits of cattle wastes. Dynamics of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O emissions were investigated with flux chambers from early April to late June 2011, during the 3 months following cattle overwintering at the site. This 81-day field study was supplemented with soil analyses of available C and N content and measurement of denitrification activity. In a more detailed field investigation, the daily time course of emissions was determined. The field research was complemented with a laboratory experiment that focused on the short-term time course of N₂O and CH₄ production in artificially created anoxic soil microsites. The following hypotheses were tested: (i) a large input of C (and N and other nutrients) in cattle manure creates conditions suitable for methanogenesis, and therefore overwintering areas can produce large amounts of CH₄; (ii) N₂O is produced and emitted until the level of mineral N decreases, while the level of CH₄ production is low; and (iii) production of CH₄ is greater when N immobilization decreases the level of NO₃⁻ in soil. N₂O emissions were relatively large during the first 3 weeks, then peaked (at ca. 4000 μg N₂ON m⁻² h⁻¹) and soon decreased to almost zero; the changes were related to the mineral and soluble organic N content in soil. CH₄ fluxes were large, though variable, in the first 2 months (600–3000 μg CH₄C m⁻² h⁻¹) and were independent of C and N availability. Although time courses differed for CH₄ and N₂O, a negative relationship between N₂O and CH₄ emissions was not detected. Contrary to CH₄ and N₂O fluxes, CO₂ emissions progressively increased to ca. 300 mg CO₂C m⁻² h⁻¹ at the end of the field study and were closely related to air and soil temperatures. Diurnal measurements revealed significant correlations between temperature and emissions of CH₄, N₂O, and CO₂. Addition of C to soil during anaerobic incubation increased the production and consumption of N₂O and supported the emission of CH₄. The results suggest that rapid denitrification significantly contributes to the exhaustion of oxidizing agents and helps create microsites supporting methanogenesis in otherwise N₂O-producing upland soil. The results also indicate that accurate estimate of gas fluxes in animal-impacted grassland areas requires assessment of both diurnal and long-term changes in CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O emissions.     

Methane concentration and emission as affected by methane transport capacity of plants in freshwater marsh

To elucidate effect of the CH₄ transport capacity of plants on CH₄ production and CH₄ emission, we measured CH₄ emission and the CH₄ transport capacity of plants as well as CH₄ and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in porewater and redox potential in the freshwater marsh vegetated with Carex lasiocarpa, Carex meyeriana and Deyeuxia angustifolia. Although only 31% of CH₄ emitted was released via Deyeuxia angustifolia into the atmosphere compared to 72–86% via Carex plants and the CH₄ transport capacity of per stem of Deyeuxia angustifolia was only 8.0 g CH₄ stem^–1 h^–1 being equal to half for Carex plants, the flux of CH₄ emission from the Deyeuxia angustifolia marsh was just lower by 17–28% than those from the Carex marshes as the standing water depth decreased significantly from 15–20 to 5 cm, indicating that despite the poor CH₄ transport capability of Deyeuxia angustifolia partly reduced CH₄ emission via plants, however CH₄ emission was not greatly reduced as expected. This is because although the poor gas transport capability of Deyeuxia angustifolia lowered CH₄ emission to some extent, however it also decreased the input of O₂ into the rhizosphere via plants; the latter not only reduced CH₄ oxidation in the rhizosphere and/or rhizome but also lowered redox potential in the vertical profile resulting in an increase in CH₄ production potential and CH₄ concentration especially at 5 cm depth, which in turn facilitated CH₄ emission through diffusion in the Deyeuxia angustifolia marsh. This study suggests that the sharp decrease in the CH₄ transport capacity of plants did not necessary result in an expected lowering of CH₄ emission in the freshwater marsh.