Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-457-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-457-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Short communication
| 
16 Jun 2025
Short communication |
| 16 Jun 2025
| 16 Jun 2025
Methane oxidation potential of soils in a rubber plantation in Thailand affected by fertilization
Jun Murase
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Kannika Sajjaphan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Chatprawee Dechjiraratthanasiri
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Ornuma Duangngam
Center of Thai-French Cooperation on Higher Education and Research (DORAS Center), Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Rawiwan Chotiphan
Sithiporn Kridakara Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Prachuap Khiri Khan, 77170, Thailand
Wutthida Rattanapichai
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Wakana Azuma
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
Makoto Shibata
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
Poonpipope Kasemsap
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Daniel Epron
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
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The rapid expansion of rubber cultivation constitutes a significant land-use change in Southeast Asia. Despite fertilization being a common practice in rubber plantations, its impact on soil methane (CH4) dynamics has remained poorly understood. Our study demonstrates that fertilization not only reduces soil CH4 consumption but also increases CH4 production, transforming rubber plantations from a net CH4 sink to a source. Implementing rational fertilization could enhance atmospheric CH4 removal.
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The rapid expansion of rubber cultivation constitutes a significant land-use change in Southeast Asia. Despite fertilization being a common practice in rubber plantations, its impact on soil methane (CH4) dynamics has remained poorly understood. Our study demonstrates that fertilization not only reduces soil CH4 consumption but also increases CH4 production, transforming rubber plantations from a net CH4 sink to a source. Implementing rational fertilization could enhance atmospheric CH4 removal.
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Short summary
Tropical forest soils are vital for methane uptake, but deforestation and agriculture can alter soil methane oxidation. An experiment in Thailand shows that fertilization significantly suppresses methane oxidation in rubber plantation soils, affecting depths up to 60 cm. Without fertilization, deeper soil layers (below 10 cm) actively oxidize methane. These findings suggest that fertilization negatively impacts the methane uptake capacity of deep-layer soils in rubber plantations.
Tropical forest soils are vital for methane uptake, but deforestation and agriculture can alter...
