Livestock manure contributes 30-50% to global nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture (where ammonia (NH3) is an indirect source of N2O), and 10-40% of total agricultural methane (CH4) emissions for most countries.
Emissions come from all stages of manure management (housing, storage, land application and direct deposition by livestock).
Manure management represents a key uncertainty category within national emission inventories, with most countries currently reporting these emissions using the IPCC default (Tier 1) methodology.
Better understanding of variables influencing GHG emissions from manure management will help to:
- improve national agricultural GHG inventories
- identify potential GHG mitigation strategies
- show the effects of mitigation strategies in national inventories