Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source

Epron Daniel, Chotiphan Rawiwan, Wang Zixiao, Duangngam Onouma, Shibata Makoto, Paul Sumonta Kumar, Mochidome Takumi, Sathornkich Jate, Azuma Jun-Ichi, Murase Jun, Nouvellon Yann, Kasemsap Poonpipope, Sajjaphan Kannika. 2025. Fertilization turns a rubber plantation from sink to methane source. Biogeosciences, 22 (15) : 4013-4033.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4013-2025

Article de revue ; Article de recherche ; Article de revue à facteur d'impact Revue en libre accès total

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Url - jeu de données - Entrepôt autre : https://doi.org/10.57723/kds591970

Résumé : 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 (CH4) uptake, thereby weakening atmospheric CH4 removal over extensive areas. While fertilization is a widespread practice in rubber plantations, its role in further weakening the soil CH4 sink has remained poorly understood. Over 1.5 years, we measured soil CH4 fluxes biweekly (every 2 weeks) in an experimental rubber plantation with four distinct fertilization treatments to evaluate their impact on the soil CH4 uptake. Our findings revealed that fertilization not only reduced soil CH4 consumption, but also increased soil CH4 production. The difference in soil CH4 uptake between unfertilized plots (−2.9 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1) and those with rational fertilization (−2.1 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1) was moderate. Recommended fertilization rates reduced soil CH4 uptake by 60 % (−1.1 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1), and heavy fertilization transformed the soil into a net source of CH4 (+0.3 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1). The suppression of soil CH4 oxidation was likely driven by increased mineral nitrogen in the soil solution and soil acidification, while elevated dissolved organic carbon likely stimulated CH4 production in the topsoil. Most rubber tree trunks emitted CH4, likely of internal origin. Trunk CH4 fluxes ranged from −0.10 to 0.51 nmol s−1 per tree, with no significant fertilization effect. At the national level, adopting rational fertilization practices in Thailand could enhance the net soil CH4 sink by 5.9 Gg CH4 yr−1. 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.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : fertilisation, fertilité du sol, Hevea brasiliensis, pratique culturale, plantations, méthane, azote organique dissous, engrais organique, industrie du caoutchouc, réduction des émissions

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Thaïlande, Asie du Sud-Est

Mots-clés libres : CH4 fluxes, Fertilization, Rubber plantations, CH4 consumption, CH4 production, Nitrogen

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