Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source
<p>The rapid expansion of rubber cultivation, driven by the demand for natural rubber in the tire industry, constitutes a significant land-use change in Southeast Asia. This significant land-use change has reduced soil methane (CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</su...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/4013/2025/bg-22-4013-2025.pdf |
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| author | D. Epron D. Epron R. Chotiphan Z. Wang O. Duangngam M. Shibata S. K. Paul T. Mochidome J. Sathornkich W. A. Azuma J. Murase J. Murase Y. Nouvellon Y. Nouvellon P. Kasemsap P. Kasemsap K. Sajjaphan |
| author_facet | D. Epron D. Epron R. Chotiphan Z. Wang O. Duangngam M. Shibata S. K. Paul T. Mochidome J. Sathornkich W. A. Azuma J. Murase J. Murase Y. Nouvellon Y. Nouvellon P. Kasemsap P. Kasemsap K. Sajjaphan |
| author_sort | D. Epron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The rapid expansion of rubber cultivation, driven by the demand for natural rubber in the tire industry, constitutes a significant land-use change in Southeast Asia. This significant land-use change has reduced soil methane (CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>) uptake, thereby weakening atmospheric CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> removal over extensive areas. While fertilization is a widespread practice in rubber plantations, its role in further weakening the soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> sink has remained poorly understood. Over 1.5 years, we measured soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes biweekly (every 2 weeks) in an experimental rubber plantation with four distinct fertilization treatments to evaluate their impact on the soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake. Our findings revealed that fertilization not only reduced soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> consumption, but also increased soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> production. The difference in soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake between unfertilized plots (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.9 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) and those with rational fertilization (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.1 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) was moderate. Recommended fertilization rates reduced soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake by 60 % (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>1.1 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>), and heavy fertilization transformed the soil into a net source of CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> (<span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.3 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>). The suppression of soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> oxidation was likely driven by increased mineral nitrogen in the soil solution and soil acidification, while elevated dissolved organic carbon likely stimulated CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> production in the topsoil. Most rubber tree trunks emitted CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>, likely of internal origin. Trunk CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes ranged from <span class="inline-formula">−</span>0.10 to 0.51 nmol s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> per tree, with no significant fertilization effect. At the national level, adopting rational fertilization practices in Thailand could enhance the net soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> sink by 5.9 Gg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. However, this mitigation strategy would have a limited impact on the overall greenhouse gas budget of the agricultural sector in Southeast Asia, unless it is extended to other tree plantations and cropping systems.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd1bfe4e1b244a4fa0a917b4d513ce9d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd1bfe4e1b244a4fa0a917b4d513ce9d2025-08-20T03:37:02ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892025-08-01224013403310.5194/bg-22-4013-2025Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane sourceD. Epron0D. Epron1R. Chotiphan2Z. Wang3O. Duangngam4M. Shibata5S. K. Paul6T. Mochidome7J. Sathornkich8W. A. Azuma9J. Murase10J. Murase11Y. Nouvellon12Y. Nouvellon13P. Kasemsap14P. Kasemsap15K. Sajjaphan16Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandSithiporn Kridakara Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77170, ThailandGraduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanDORAS Centre, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandGraduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanGraduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandGraduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandGraduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, JapanDORAS Centre, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandUMR Eco&Sols, CIRAD, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier CEDEX 2, FranceFaculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDORAS Centre, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandFaculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand<p>The rapid expansion of rubber cultivation, driven by the demand for natural rubber in the tire industry, constitutes a significant land-use change in Southeast Asia. This significant land-use change has reduced soil methane (CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>) uptake, thereby weakening atmospheric CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> removal over extensive areas. While fertilization is a widespread practice in rubber plantations, its role in further weakening the soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> sink has remained poorly understood. Over 1.5 years, we measured soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes biweekly (every 2 weeks) in an experimental rubber plantation with four distinct fertilization treatments to evaluate their impact on the soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake. Our findings revealed that fertilization not only reduced soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> consumption, but also increased soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> production. The difference in soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake between unfertilized plots (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.9 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) and those with rational fertilization (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.1 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) was moderate. Recommended fertilization rates reduced soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> uptake by 60 % (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>1.1 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>), and heavy fertilization transformed the soil into a net source of CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> (<span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.3 kg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>). The suppression of soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> oxidation was likely driven by increased mineral nitrogen in the soil solution and soil acidification, while elevated dissolved organic carbon likely stimulated CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> production in the topsoil. Most rubber tree trunks emitted CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>, likely of internal origin. Trunk CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes ranged from <span class="inline-formula">−</span>0.10 to 0.51 nmol s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> per tree, with no significant fertilization effect. At the national level, adopting rational fertilization practices in Thailand could enhance the net soil CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> sink by 5.9 Gg CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. However, this mitigation strategy would have a limited impact on the overall greenhouse gas budget of the agricultural sector in Southeast Asia, unless it is extended to other tree plantations and cropping systems.</p>https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/4013/2025/bg-22-4013-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | D. Epron D. Epron R. Chotiphan Z. Wang O. Duangngam M. Shibata S. K. Paul T. Mochidome J. Sathornkich W. A. Azuma J. Murase J. Murase Y. Nouvellon Y. Nouvellon P. Kasemsap P. Kasemsap K. Sajjaphan Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source Biogeosciences |
| title | Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| title_full | Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| title_fullStr | Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| title_short | Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| title_sort | fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source |
| url | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/4013/2025/bg-22-4013-2025.pdf |
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