Influence of salinity on methanogenesis and associated microflora in tropical rice soils.
In a laboratory incubation study, methane (CH4) production in two saline soils and a nonsaline soil sample was investigated under flooded conditions. Mean CH4 production was remarkable (630.86 ng CH4/g) in nonsaline alluvial soil, but low (12.97 ng CH4/g) in acid sulfate saline (Pokkali) soil which was attributed to the high sulfate content of the later. CH4 production was also low in the coastal saline (Canning) soil (142.36 ng CH4/g) but increased upon leaching the soil of its salt content. Addition of salts to the nonsaline alluvial soil at 4, 8, 16 and 20 dS/m progressively decreased CH4 production. The inhibition of CH4 production was related to low microbial activities as reflected by decreased microbial biomass C and low soil microbial population including that of methanogens.
Pattnaik
P
P
Division of Soil Science & Microbiology, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Orissa, India.
Mishra
S R
SR
Bharati
K
K
Mohanty
S R
SR
Sethunathan
N
N
Adhya
T K
TK
D000383:Agriculture; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D018533:Biomass; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012492:Salts; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012995:Solubility; D014329:Tropical Climate
D012492:Salts; D012987:Soil; D008697:Methane