METHANE OXIDATION IN SOIL PROFILES OF DUTCH AND FINNISH CONIFEROUS FORESTS WITH DIFFERENT SOIL TEXTURE AND ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN DEPOSITION

We studied methane oxidation capacity in soil profiles of Dutch and Fi nnish coniferous forests. The Finnish sites (n = 9) had nitrogen depos itions from 3 to 36 kg N ha(-1) a(-1). The deposition of N on the Dutc h sites (n = 13) was higher ranging from 50 to 92 kg N ha(-1) a(-1). T he Dutch sites had also limed counterparts. Methane oxidation rates we re determined by incubating soil samples in the laboratory at + 15 deg rees C with 10 mu l CH4 l(-1) (10 ppmv CH4) In general, CH4 oxidation rates were highest in the uppermost mineral layers. The average CH4 ox idation rate in the Finnish mineral soils was three times higher than that in the Dutch soils. The litter layers did not oxidize CH4. In the Netherlands all organic horizons had a negligible capacity to oxidize CH4. However, some Finnish organic horizons showed high CH4 oxidation capacity. In the Netherlands, in contrast to Finland, there were some soil profiles lacking CH4 oxidation. Higher contents of nitrate and a mmonium, as well as greater production of nitrous oxide (N2O) and lowe r production of carbon dioxide in the Dutch than in the Finnish forest soils reflected the high N deposition rate in the Netherlands. Not on ly the N deposition, but also the highly sorted soil texture (fine san d) with low amounts of both coarse and fine particles is an important reason for the low CH4 oxidation in the Dutch soils. The proportions o f fine and coarse particles, both well represented in moraine soils ty pical in northern Europe, correlated positively with the CH4 oxidation . Fine particles provide a good surface for microbial growth. Coarse p articles, on the other hand, enhance diffusion of CH4 and oxygen into the soil. Methane oxidation in the Dutch mineral soils was slightly en hanced by liming. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.