Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant urine: science and mitigation for intensively managed perennial pastures

Timothy J. Clough, L. M. Cardenas, Johannes Friedl, Benjamin Wolf

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability · 2020

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Summary

This review examines the mechanisms by which ruminant urine contributes to nitrous oxide emissions in intensively managed perennial pasture systems, and synthesises evidence on practical mitigation strategies. Published in a policy-focused journal (2020), it likely addresses the tension between productive grazing and greenhouse gas reduction, relevant to both environmental sustainability and livestock farming intensification.

UK applicability

Highly applicable to United Kingdom dairy and beef pastoral systems, where perennial grass pastures are dominant and urine patches represent a significant N₂O source. The mitigation strategies reviewed would inform UK farm practice and climate policy alignment with net-zero commitments.

Key measures

Nitrous oxide emissions (N₂O); urine nitrogen cycling; pasture management practices; mitigation effectiveness

Outcomes reported

As suggested by the title, this paper reviews nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions arising from ruminant urine deposited on intensively managed perennial pastures, and examines evidence-based mitigation approaches to reduce such emissions.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.cosust.2020.07.001
Catalogue ID
MGmorzbh9i-qwmek0

Topic tags

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