METHANE EMISSION AND METHANOGEN STATUS OF INDIAN RICE SOIL

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the rate of methane emis sion and the methanogenic population in an Indian rice soil. Methane e mission was highest at 37 degrees C. The dry rice soil had a low metha nogen content but this increased after vice cultivation. Addition of f armyard manure increased the methane emission, while inorganic fertili zers suppressed methane emission in uncultivated rice soil. The soil a fter rice cultivation was a better source of inoculum for biogas produ ction than the spent slurry from a cattle-waste-based biogas plant.