Summary
This multi-site field study (2011–2013) quantified nitrous oxide emissions from six types of livestock manure applied to representative UK arable and grassland soils under typical management practices. Country-specific emission factors were derived to reduce uncertainty in the UK national agricultural greenhouse gas inventory and support Tier 2 regional inventory reporting. The findings reveal that poultry manures produce substantially higher direct N2O EFs than farmyard manures or slurries, whilst application method and the nitrification inhibitor DCD show context-dependent effects on emissions.
UK applicability
These findings directly inform UK national greenhouse gas inventory methodology and are explicitly used in Tier 2 country-specific emission factors for agricultural reporting. The results reflect UK soil types, climate conditions, and representative manure management practices, making them directly applicable to UK agricultural policy and emissions accounting.
Key measures
Direct N2O emission factors (% of N applied); ammonia emissions; nitrate leaching losses; manure type (pig slurry, cattle slurry, cattle FYM, pig FYM, poultry layer manure, broiler litter); application method (bandspread vs. surface broadcast); soil incorporation; nitrification inhibitor (DCD) efficacy
Outcomes reported
The study measured direct nitrous oxide emission factors (EFs) from six types of livestock manure applied to UK arable and grassland soils under field conditions, ranging from −0.52 to 2.30% of total nitrogen applied. The research also quantified indirect N2O losses through ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching to derive comprehensive country-specific emission factors for national inventory reporting.
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