Methanol promotes methane oxidation by greenhouse soil and its microbial mechanism

Methane oxidation ability of green-house soil was detected. The results showed that methane oxidation ability was different in various soil and possibly it was related to the basic properties of the soil. Microorganisms were responsible to methane oxidation. C sources tested could restrain methane oxidation. Cellulose inhibited methane oxidation most weakly while the high concentration of methanol and glucose did dramatically, but the proper concentration of methanol could stimulate soil methane oxidation sharply. The utilization of methane and methanol by a methanotrophic isolate from the soil was also detected. It was supposed that the facultative methanotrophs might be dominant for methane oxidation as methane released weakly in the greenhouse soil.