METHANE FLUX MEASUREMENTS FROM PADDY FIELDS IN THE TROPICAL INDIAN REGION

Methane flux measurements have been made from paddy fields in the Than javur region in southern India from September 1991 to January 1992. Th is is a major rice growing area having plenty of river and rain water. A perspex chamber was used to cover the plants. Samples from this cha mber were collected using a metal bellows pump in small sample bottles . The methane flux values estimated from the analysis of these samples are mostly in the range of 15-25 mg m-2 h-1. These preliminary result s, from natural fields, give higher flux values than estimates from so me other regions in India, as well as average values for the mid-latit ude region, but values lower than from China.