Behaviour of methane emission from a paddy field of high carbon content

Abstract

Behaviour of methane emission from the paddy field of Lakshmikantapur has been studied for two full crop years, 1998-99 and 2003-04. The soil of this place has carbon content greater than 0.7 %. Two types of crops, namely, Kharif and Rabi are grown during a full crop year. Measurements were made from the beginning to the end of the plant life. Simultaneously water level and soil temperature were also measured. It is found that occasionally methane emission takes place by ebullition-yielding high value of concentration. It has diurnal variation with maximum around 1400 hrs LT. There are two peaks of emission in the whole plant life; for Kharif, the second peak is lower than the first peak and for Rabi, it is the other way round. Soil temperature affects methane emission more than water level.