Methane emission from jute-retting tanks

Abstract Jute ( Corchorus capsularis L. and C. olitorius L.) retting tanks produce large volumes of methane. A wide variation in the rate of production of methane ranging from 8 to 779 mg m − h −1 and averaging 148 mg M −2 h −1 was measured at several sites in West Bengal, India. Optimum water temperature was found to be 34°C. Total methane generation from jute production is estimated to be 18.8×10 10 g per year, a small fraction of the estimated methane generation from rice fields.