Biogeochemistry of N2O Uptake and Consumption in Submerged Soils and Rice Fields and Implications in Climate Change

Submerged soils and rice fields are known sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) but also act as its sinks. Nitrous oxide uptake (movement from atmosphere into soil) and consumption (conversion of N2O to N2) in rice fields are both very significant, as they help decrease N2O concentration in the atmosphere. Rice soils had reportedly shown N2O uptake ranging from about 0.13 to 191 μg N2O-N m−2 hr−1 while in non-rice soils the same was about 0.0014–484 μg N2O-N m−2 hr−1. This review synthesizes the available information on N2O uptake and consumption in submerged soils vis-à-vis rice fields.