Methane production and emissions from four reclaimed and pristine wetlands of Southeastern United States

Journal Article · · Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800040039x· OSTI ID:7028562

Schipper, L A ^[1]; Reddy, K R ^[2]

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1. Landcare Research NZ, Ltd., Hamilton (New Zealand)
2. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Wetlands are significant contributors to global CH[sub 4] emission. We measured CH[sub 4] emissions at two pristine wetlands [Okefenokee swamp and the Everglades (Water Conservation Area 2A)] and two reclaimed wetlands (Sunny Hill Farm and Apopka Marsh) in Southeastern USA, and we attempted to relate emissions to CH[sub 4] production rates of the soil and the soil's biological and chemical properties. Methane emissions through cattail [Typha sp.] and waterilly [Nymphaea ordorata (L.)] ranged from 0.09 to 1.7 g CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] d[sup [minus]1] and exhibited high spatial and temporal variability. Diffusive flux of CH[sub 4] was calculated using dissolved CH[sub 4] profiles in the soil pore water and accounted for <5% of the plant-mediated emissions. Potential CH[sub 4] production rates were measured as a function of depth using soil samples obtained at 2-cm increments. Methane production rates were the same order of magnitude at all sites (<1-70 ng CH[sub 4]-C g[sup [minus]1] soil C d[sup [minus]1]) and were highest in the surface soils (0-6 cm) at three of the wetland sites, indicating that the predominant source of C available to methanogens was in the surface soils. Methane production rates in the top 24 cm ranged from 0.3 to 1.1 g CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] d[sup [minus]1] and annual C losses due to anaerobic decomposition accounted for between 0.68 and 3.7% of the total C in the surface 24-cm soil depth. 36 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7028562
• Journal Information: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States), Vol. 58:4; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
METHANE
EMISSION
CARBON DIOXIDE
CATTAILS
COMPILED DATA
GREENHOUSE GASES
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
PLANTS
SOILS
SULFATES
USA
WETLANDS
ALKANES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
030800* - Natural Gas- Environmental Aspects
540310 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (1990-)
550700 - Microbiology