The effects of fire on biogenic emissions of methane and nitric oxide from wetlands

Enhanced emissions of methane (CH₄) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured following three controlled burns in a Florida wetlands in 1987 and 1988. Wetlands are the major global source of methane resulting from metabolic activity of methanogenic bacteria. Methanogens require carbon dioxide, acetate, or formate for their growth and the metabolic production of methane. All three water-soluble compounds are produced in large concentrations during biomass burning. Postfire methane emissions exceeded 0.15 g CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹. Nitric oxide is produced by nitrifying bacteria using ammonium as the substrate. Ammonium is also produced in large concentrations during biomass burning. Preburn and postburn measurements of soil nutrients indicate significant postburn increases in soil ammonium, from 8.35 to 13.49 parts per million (ppm) in the upper 5 cm of the Juncus marsh and from 8.83 to 23.75 ppm in the upper 5 cm of the Spartina marsh. Soil nitrate concentrations were found to decrease in both marshes after the fire. These measurements indicate that the combustion products of biomass burning exert an important “fertilizing” effect on the biosphere and on the biogenic production of environmentally significant atmospheric gases. These findings are particularly important since global biomass burning appears to be far more widespread and extensive than previously believed.