Table 1.

Delay (days) before onset of CH₄ production and rates of potential CH₄ production in peat soils with no added substrates.

Month	Chicago		McLean		Michigan
	Delay	Rate	Delay	Rate	Delay	Rate
Jun	11	0.072 (0.010)	11	0.068 (0.022)	11	0.067 (0.007)
Aug	10	0.053 (0.009)	14	0.052 (0.011)	8	0.052 (0.010)
Sep/Oct	18	0.037 (0.003)	10	0.042 (0.001)	7	0.037 (0.006)
Jan	10	0.061 (0.001)	17	0.031 (0.007)	ND	ND
Apr	6	0.045 (0.001)	14	0.020 (0.003)	8	0.129 (0.031)
May	11	0.058 (0.012)	19	0.031 (0.003)	10	0.050 (0.017)
Jul	11	0.081 (0.007)	11	0.099 (0.011)	11	0.181 (0.025)

ND, no data. Mean rate, mmol L⁻¹ day⁻¹, and 1 SE in parentheses.