Effects of fertilization on the potential of methane oxidation in upland soil
Hu Ronggui · 2004
Methane is an important greenhouse gas second only to carbon dioxide and it accounts for 20% of the global warming. Methane concentration in the atmosphere increases rapidly due to the unbalance of methane sources and sinks. Soils can oxidize atmospheric methane under particular condition due to methanotroph exist in soils. However, agricultural activities impact soil methane oxidation potential. Nitrogen fertilization is one of the important factors that inhibit methane oxidation in soils. Long-term fertilization experiments showed that it was ammonium not nitrate that inhibited methane oxidation in soil. Because ammonium and methane molecule bear a similar size that leads a competing inhibition between methane and ammonium oxidation. In addition, repeated ammonium application causes a shift of soil microbes?population and their activities. Short-term effect of nitrogen fertilization on methane oxidation may be dependent on the soil management practice, soil physical and chemical properties, and the amount of fertilizer used. Organic manure also has an impact on soil methane oxidation; however, it is dependent on the property of the organic matter and the method of the application.