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Do Soil Methanotrophs Really Remove About 5% of Atmospheric Methane?

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaokun Yao

    (Institute for Materials and Processes, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FB, UK)

  • Tao Tao

    (Institute for Materials and Processes, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FB, UK)

  • Wei Li

    (Institute for Materials and Processes, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FB, UK)

  • Tingzhen Ming

    (School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Renaud de Richter

    (Tour-Solaire.Fr, 8 Impasse des Papillons, 34090 Montpellier, France)

Abstract

It has been experimentally proved that microorganisms in soils are able to remove atmospheric methane (CH 4 ), particularly through experiments with radioelements such as 14 CH 4 . However, a curious question arises: are these microorganisms the only responsible sink for all atmospheric CH 4 uptake attributed to soils, or do non-microbial (e.g., chemical) processes also contribute part of it? In this perspective article, we propose that atmospheric methane removal (AMR) in soils may result from a combination of microbial and non-microbial processes. In addition to oxidation by MOB, we analyzed the potential roles of photocatalytic reactions on soil minerals, Fenton-like chemistry in water droplets, chlorine radical pathways in chloride-rich soils and ozone/VOCs-driven •OH generation. These chemical mechanisms may act independently or intertwined with microbial activity under specific environmental conditions. We suggest that future studies use experimental approaches to explore and quantify the relative contributions of these pathways and to help refine our understanding of the soil CH 4 sink in the global methane budget.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaokun Yao & Tao Tao & Wei Li & Tingzhen Ming & Renaud de Richter, 2025. "Do Soil Methanotrophs Really Remove About 5% of Atmospheric Methane?," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:9:p:1864-:d:1747895
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Surabhi Karambelkar & Maryalice Fischer & Shannon Ames, 2025. "Hydropower Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions: State of the Science and Roadmap for Further Research to Improve Emission Accounting and Mitigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Vincent Gauci & Sunitha Rao Pangala & Alexander Shenkin & Josep Barba & David Bastviken & Viviane Figueiredo & Carla Gomez & Alex Enrich-Prast & Emma Sayer & Tainá Stauffer & Bertie Welch & Dafydd Eli, 2024. "Global atmospheric methane uptake by upland tree woody surfaces," Nature, Nature, vol. 631(8022), pages 796-800, July.
    3. Tilman Schmider & Anne Grethe Hestnes & Julia Brzykcy & Hannes Schmidt & Arno Schintlmeister & Benjamin R. K. Roller & Ezequiel Jesús Teran & Andrea Söllinger & Oliver Schmidt & Martin F. Polz & Andre, 2024. "Physiological basis for atmospheric methane oxidation and methanotrophic growth on air," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Ian D. Bull & Nisha R. Parekh & Grahame H. Hall & Philip Ineson & Richard P. Evershed, 2000. "Detection and classification of atmospheric methane oxidizing bacteria in soil," Nature, Nature, vol. 405(6783), pages 175-178, May.
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