THE METHANE UPTAKE CAPACITY OF SOIL GARDEN

Abstract

Aerobic CH4 oxidation through methanotrophic bacteria is the only terrestrial sink and the only sink that can be altered directly or indirectly by human so far. However, the capacity of this sink is highly variable in different ecosystems depending on four key factors which are soil diffusivity, soil temperature, soil nitrogen status and soil moisture. While many studies in Australia experience the significant inverse correlation between soil moisture and CH4 flux magnitude in temperate forests in Victoria and New South Wales, there is a lack of research about the methane uptake capacity of garden soil. Consequently, we hypothesise that there is a similar pattern of CH4 uptake by garden soil..