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Oxidation of methane in boreal forest soils: a comparison of seven measures

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Abstract

Methane oxidation rates were measured in boreal forest soils using seven techniques that provide a range of information on soil CH4 oxidation. These include: (a) short-term static chamber experiments with a free-air (1.7 ppm CH4) headspace, (b) estimating CH4 oxidation rates from soil CH4 distributions and (c)222Rn-calibrated flux measurements, (d) day-long static chamber experiments with free-air and amended (+20 to 2000 PPM CH4) headspaces, (e) jar experiments on soil core sections using free-air and (f) amended (+500 ppm CH4) headspaces, and (g) jar experiments on core sections involving tracer additions of14CH4. Short-term unamended chamber measurements,222Rn-calibrated flux measurements, and soil CH4 distributions show independently that the soils are capable of oxidizing atmospheric CH4 at rates ranging to < 2 mg m−2 d−1. Jar experiments with free-air headspaces and soil CH4 profiles show that CH4 oxidation occurs to a soil depth of 60 cm and is maximum in the 10 to 20 cm zone. Jar experiments and chamber measurements with free-air headspaces show that CH4 oxidation occurs at low (< 0.9 ppm) thresholds. The14CH4-amended jar experiments show the distribution of end products of CH4 oxidation; 60% is transformed to CO2 and the remainder is incorporated in biomass. Chamber and jar experiments under amended atmospheres show that these soils have a high capacity for CH4 oxidation and indicate potential CH4 oxidation rates as high as 867 mg m−2 d−1. Methane oxidation in moist soils modulates CH4 emission and can serve as a negative feedback on atmospheric CH4 increases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775-1080

    Stephen C. Whalen, William S. Reeburgh & Valerie A. Barber

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  1. Stephen C. Whalen
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  2. William S. Reeburgh
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  3. Valerie A. Barber
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Whalen, S.C., Reeburgh, W.S. & Barber, V.A. Oxidation of methane in boreal forest soils: a comparison of seven measures. Biogeochemistry 16, 181–211 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002818

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002818

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