Summary
This 2020 review examines the mechanisms driving nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant urine in intensively managed perennial pastures and appraises evidence-based mitigation strategies. The authors synthesise scientific understanding of N₂O production pathways in urine patches and discuss agronomic and management interventions to reduce emissions intensity. As a review in a sustainability-focused journal, the paper is likely to be of interest to farmers, researchers, and policy-makers seeking to lower the greenhouse gas footprint of pastoral livestock systems.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK dairy and beef production systems, which rely substantially on perennial pasture management. UK pastoral farming intensification and regulatory pressure on agricultural emissions suggest the mitigation strategies discussed could inform both farm-level practice and agri-environmental policy.
Key measures
Nitrous oxide emission rates and mitigation effectiveness; urine nitrogen cycling; pasture management practices
Outcomes reported
The study reviewed science and mitigation strategies for nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions arising from ruminant urine deposited on intensively managed perennial pastures. The paper synthesises current understanding of emission mechanisms and evaluates practical mitigation approaches for pastoral farming systems.
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