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Potassium application reduces methane emission from a flooded field planted to rice

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Abstract

In a field study, potassium (K) applied as muriate of potash (MOP) significantly reduced methane (CH4) emission from a flooded alluvial soil planted to rice. Cumulative emission was highest in control plots (125.34 kg CH4 ha−1), while the lowest emission was recorded in field plots receiving 30 kg K ha−1 (63.81 kg CH4 ha−1), with a 49% reduction in CH4 emission. Potassium application prevented a drop in the redox potential and reduced the contents of active reducing substances and Fe2+ content in the rhizosphere soil. Potassium amendment also inhibited methanogenic bacteria and stimulated methanotrophic bacterial population. Results suggest that, apart form producing higher plant biomass (both above- and underground) and grain yield, K amendment can effectively reduce CH4 emission from flooded soil and could be developed into an effective mitigation option, especially in K-deficient soils.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported, in part by the National Agricultural Technology Project entitled, “Greenhouse Gas Emission from Rice-based Cropping systems” (Grant No. 26(4)/97-NATP) by the Indian Council of Agricultural research, New Delhi. We thank the Director, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, for permission to publish this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Division of Soil Science and Microbiology, Central Rice Research Institute, 753006, Cuttack, Orissa, India

    D. R. Nayak & T. K. Adhya

  2. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Y. Jagadeesh Babu

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  1. Y. Jagadeesh Babu
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  2. D. R. Nayak
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  3. T. K. Adhya
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Correspondence to T. K. Adhya.

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Jagadeesh Babu, Y., Nayak, D.R. & Adhya, T.K. Potassium application reduces methane emission from a flooded field planted to rice. Biol Fertil Soils 42, 532–541 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0048-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0048-3

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