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Title
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from cattle excreta on an East African grassland
Publication Date
2016-09
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
<p>Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission measurements from livestock excreta in Africa are limited. We measured CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from excreta of six Boran (<i>Bos indicus</i>) and six Friesian (<i>Bos taurus</i>)steers near Nairobi, Kenya. The steers were fed one of three diets (T1 [chaffed wheat straw], T2 [T1 + <i>Calliandra calothyrsus</i>Meissner – 0.2% live weight per day], and T3 [T1 + calliandra –0.4% live weight every 2 d]). The T1 diet is similar in quality to typical diets in the region. Calliandra is a leguminous fodder tree promoted as a feed supplement. Fresh feces and urine were applied to grasslands and emissions measured using static chambers. Cumulative 28-d fecal emissions were 302 ± 52.4 and95 ± 13.8 mg CH 4–C kg<sup>-1</sup> dry matter for Friesen and Boran steers, respectively, and 11.5 ± 4.26 and 24.7 ± 8.32 mg N<sub>2</sub>O–N kg<sup>-1</sup> dry matter for Friesian and Boran steers, respectively. For urine fromFriesian steers, the N<sub>2</sub>O emissions were 2.8 ± 0.64 mg N<sub>2</sub>O–N 100mL urine-1. The CH<sub>4</sub> emission factors (EFs) (246 ± 49.5 and 87 ± 12.7g CH 4–C yr<sup>-1</sup> animal<sup>-1</sup> for Friesan and Boran, respectively) were lower than the International Panel on Climate Change EFs (750 gCH 4–C animal<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>), whereas the N2O EFs (0.1 and 0.2% for the Friesian and Boran feces, respectively, and 1.2% for urine) were also lower than International Panel on Climate Change estimates.The low N content of the excreta likely caused the low emissions and indicates that current models probably overestimate CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from African livestock manure.</p>
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Journal of Environmental Quality, 45(5), p. 1531-1539
Publisher
American Society of Agronomy
Place of Publication
United State of America
ISSN
1537-2537
0047-2425
File(s) openpublished/MethaneGoopyKorir2016JouralArticle.pdf (1.39 MB)
Published Version
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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