Emission of biogenic sulfur gases from Chinese rice paddies

Biogenic sulfur gases emitted from Chinese rice paddies were measured with a laboratory incubation and a closed chamber method in the field. Six speci ations of sulfur-containing gases were detected in both conditions: hydroge n sulfide (H2S), carbonyl sulfide (COS), methyl mercaptan (CH,SH), carbon d isulfide (CS,), dimethyl sulfide (CH,SCH, or DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (C H3SSCH3 or DMDS). Among them, DMS comprised the major part of the sulfur em ission. Emission of sulfur gases from different paddy soils exhibit high sp atial and temporal variability. The emission of volatile sulfur gases incre ased with application of organic manure and positively correlated with the total sulfur content in the soil. The diurnal and seasonal variations of to tal volatile sulfur gases and DMS indicate that their emissions were greatl y influenced by the air temperature and the activity of the rice plant. The annual emission of total volatile sulfur gases from the Nanjing rice paddy field ranged from 4.0 to 9.5 mg S m(-2) year(-1), that of DMS ranged from 3.1 to 6.5 mg S m(-2) year(-1). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.