In a laboratory incubation study, methane (CH 4) production in two saline soils and a nonsaline soil sample was investigated under flooded conditions. Mean CH 4 production was remarkable (630.86 ng CH 4/g) in nonsaline alluvial soil, but low (12.97 ng CH 4/g) in acid sulfate saline ( Pokkali) soil which was attributed to the high sulfate content of the later. CH 4 production was also low in the coastal saline ( Canning) soil (142.36 ng CH 4/g) but increased upon leaching the soil of its salt content. Addition of salts to the nonsaline alluvial soil at 4, 8, 16 and 20 dS/m progressively decreased CH 4 production. The inhibition of CH 4 production was related to low microbial activities as reflected by decreased microbial biomass C and low soil microbial population including that of methanogens.