Elucidating three-way interactions between soil, pasture and animals that regulate nitrous oxide emissions from temperate grazing systems

Summary

This field-based research elucidates the complex feedback mechanisms linking soil microbiota, pasture characteristics, and livestock diet that regulate nitrous oxide emissions in temperate grazing systems. The study demonstrates that high sugar grass monoculture soils produce elevated N₂O emissions when receiving excreta from cattle fed the same forage type, highlighting system-level interactions. The findings emphasise the necessity of evaluating agricultural environmental impacts holistically, accounting for the microbial and biochemical feedback loops across soil–pasture–animal compartments.

UK applicability

Given that the study was conducted on temperate grazing systems typical of UK pastoral agriculture, the findings are directly relevant to United Kingdom farming practice and climate mitigation policy. The results have implications for grassland management and feed strategy optimisation in UK dairy and beef systems seeking to reduce N₂O emissions.

Key measures

Nitrous oxide emissions from soil; soil microbial community composition; pasture botanical composition; cattle diet and excreta composition

Outcomes reported

The study examined nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil under high sugar grass monoculture pastures receiving cattle excreta, investigating three-way interactions between soil microbiology, pasture composition, and animal diet. Results demonstrated that soil under high sugar grass monoculture recorded elevated N₂O emissions when receiving excreta from cattle fed the same grass type.

Topic tags