Summary
This field study at the North Wyke Farm Platform examined mechanistic interactions between soil, pasture, and grazing animals in regulating N₂O emissions from temperate grasslands. By using live grazing rather than applied excreta treatments, the research captures realistic variation in herbage intake and excreta composition that influences downstream soil nitrogen cycling and microbial processes. The findings provide empirically grounded evidence for N₂O mitigation strategies in pastoral systems based on soil-plant-animal interactions.
UK applicability
The study was conducted at a UK research facility and directly reflects temperate UK grazing conditions, making the findings highly applicable to UK pastoral farming policy and practice. The mechanistic understanding of how sward management and animal type influence N₂O emissions offers practical guidance for reducing greenhouse gas intensity in UK livestock systems.
Key measures
N₂O gas flux measurements; soil properties; pasture sward type; animal excreta composition; soil microbial activity
Outcomes reported
The study measured nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux rates under three contrasting pasture management strategies with live grazing animals, and examined how interactions between soil properties, sward composition, and animal excreta characteristics regulate N₂O emissions.
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