The effect of heavy metals on CH4 oxidation in flooded
laterite soil was also investigated. While CH4 oxidation was
faster in unamended flooded laterite soil, all of the heavy
metals inhibited the process with Zn being the most toxic
(Table 4). Interestingly, Cr, which significantly inhibited
CH4 oxidation in the flooded alluvial soil, had only
marginal inhibitory effect in the laterite soil. The degree
of inhibition of CH4 oxidation in the laterite soil thus
followed the order