METHANE UPTAKE IN SOILS OF SOUTHERN SPAIN ESTIMATED BY 2 DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES - STATIC CHAMBER AND (222)RADON FLUX AND SOIL AIR CONCENTRATION PROFILES

Measurements of methane fluxes from four differing soils in the surrou ndings of Malaga (Spain) were carried out by two methods: a direct met hod using a static accumulation chamber at the soil surface and an ind irect method obtained from simultaneously measured Rn-222 flux from th e soil surface in parallel with the concentration profile measurements of Rn-222 and CH4 in the air of soil. The directly measured methane f lux at all the investigated soils was higher than the methane fluxes d erived from the indirect method. Atmospheric methane was consumed by a ll the soils and mean direct flux to the atmosphere were 3.25 mu mol m (-2) h(-1). The study showed no correlation between methane uptake and soil temperature, which might be due to the dry conditions prevailing during the study period.