Methanogenic archaea in paddy agricultural fields

Abstract

The analysis of methane-producing methanogenic archaea community structure will be helpful in enhancing the understanding of microbial ecology of methanogens and methane production potential of soil that is essential for formulation of strategies to mitigate methane emission from rice fields. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the methanogenic archaea community structure and their methane production potential in three different rice soil types (Alfisol, Inceptisol, and Vertisol). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of Methanocellales, Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, Methanosarcinaceae, and Methanosaetaceae group common to all the soils with varying relative abundance. Methane production potential for soils was in order Alfisol < Inceptisol < Vertisol, following the first-order kinetics. Overall analyses suggested that there is homogeneity in soils for methanogenic diversity, although methane production potential varied, possibly due to the presence of methanogens in different proportions and difference in the soil characteristics. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018.