Oxidation of CH
4 in the rhizosphere of rice plants was quantified using (1) methyl fluoride, a specific inhibitor of CH
4 oxidation, and (2) measuring changes in plant-mediated CH
4 emission after incubation under air, N
2, or 40% O
2. No significant rhizospheric CH
4 oxidation was observed from rice plants in the ripening stage. CH
4 emission from rice plants 1 week before panicle initiation increased by 40% if CH
4 oxidation in the rhizosphere was blocked. The growth stage of the rice plant is an important factor determining the rhizospheric CH
4 oxidation. Fluctuation of rhizospheric CH
4 oxidation during the growing season may help to explain the observed seasonal CH
4 emission patterns in field studies. Measurements from four rice varieties showed that one variety, Pokkali, had higher rhizospheric CH
4 oxidation. This was probably because Pokkali was in an earlier growth stage than the other three varieties. Both in the early and in the late growth stages, incubation under N
2 caused a much stronger CH
4 flux than inhibition of CH
4 oxidation alone. Apparently, N
2 incubation not only blocked CH
4 oxidation but also stimulated methanogenesis in the rhizosphere. Incubation under a higher O
2 atmosphere (40% O
2) than ambient air decreased the CH
4 flux, suggesting that increasing the oxidation of the rice rhizosphere may help in reducing CH
4 fluxes from rice agriculture. The O
2 pressure in the rhizosphere is an important factor that reduces the plant-mediated CH
4 flux. However, inhibition of methanogenesis in the rhizosphere may contribute more to CH
4 flux reduction than rhizospheric CH
4 oxidation.
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