Methane oxidation in boreal forest soils: kinetics and sensitivity to pH and ammonium

In soil incubation experiments we examined if there are differences in the kinetic parameters of atmospheric methane (CH4) oxidation in soils of upland forests and forested peatlands. All soils showed net uptake of atmospheric CH4. One of the upland forests included also managed (clear-cut with or without previous liming or N-fertilization) study plots. The CH4 oxidation in the forested peat soil had a higher Km (510 μl l−1) and Vmax (6.2 nmol CH4 cm−3 h−1) than the upland forest soils (Km from 5 to 18 μl l−1 and Vmax from 0.15 to 1.7 nmol CH4 cm−3 h−1). The forest managements did not affect the Km-values. At atmospheric CH4 concentration, the upland forest soils had a higher CH4 oxidation activity than the forested peat soil; at high CH4 concentrations the reverse was true. Most of the soils oxidised CH4 in the studied pH range from 3 to 7.5. The pH optimum for CH4 oxidation varied from 4 to 7.5. Some of the soils had a pH optimum for CH4 oxidation that was above their natural pH. The CH4 oxidation in the upland forest soils and in the peat soil did not differ in their sensitivities to (NH4)2SO4 or K2SO4 (used as a non-ammonium salt control). Inhibition of CH4 oxidation by (NH4)2SO4 resulted mainly from a general salt effect (osmotic stress) though NH4+ did have some additional inhibitory properties. Both salts were better inhibitors of CH4 oxidation than respiration. The differences in the CH4 oxidation kinetics in the forested peat soil and in the upland forest soils reveal that there are differences in the physiologies of the CH4 oxidisers in these soils.