CH4 oxidation and N2O emissions at varied soil water-filled pore spaces and headspace CH4 concentrations

Emission of N2O and CH4 oxidation rates were measured from soils of contrasting (30-75%) water-filled pore space (WFPS). Oxidation rates of 13C-CH4 were determined after application of 10 microliter 13C-CH4 l(-1) (10 at. % excess 13C) to soil headspace and comparisons made with estimates from changes in net CH4 emission in these treatments and under ambient CH4 where no 13C-CH4 had been applied. We found a significant effect of soil WFPS on 13C-CH4 oxidation rates and evidence for oxidation of 2.2 microgram 13C-CH4 d(-1) occurring in the 75% WFPS soil, which may have been either aerobic oxidation occurring in aerobic microsites in this soil or anaerobic CH4 oxidation. The lowest 13C-CH4 oxidation rate was measured in the 30% WFPS soil…