Emission Of Methane From Plants

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 15 Jan 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The recent suggestion that plants directly emit methane into the air has drawn much attention.

To test the hypothesis, we examined various possible sources of methane production, and found that under normal growth conditions, plants are not capable of synthesizing methane.

Normally, plants take up water from the soil, and transpire it as water vapour through their leaves. If there is dissolved methane in the soil water, this methane will be taken up and released as well, making it appear as though plants produce methane.

However, under stress conditions, break down of plant matter can release methane, which may contribute a small part of the global methane budget.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

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