Methane emission and methanogen status of Indian rice soil

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the rate of methane emission and the methanogenic population in an Indian rice soil. Methane emission was highest at 37°C. The dry rice soil had a low methanogen content but this increased after rice cultivation. Addition of farmyard manure increased the methane emission, while inorganic fertilizers suppressed methane emission in uncultivated rice soil. The soil after rice cultivation was a better source of incoulum for biogas production than the spent slurry from a cattle-waste-based biogas plant.