Cattle Overwintering Areas in Middle-European Conditions - Important “Point” Sources Of Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in grazed grasslands are strongly influenced by animal excreta (Fowler et al., 1997). In addition, soil compaction caused by animal traffic significantly influences soil physical conditions and thus directly or indirectly impacts on the microbial processes producing N2O. In the Czech Republic pastures are mostly located in hilly and mountain areas. During the growing season, cattle are typically grazing, while during the winter the animals are concentrated near the animal house on a relatively small plot called an overwintering area . The objective of this study was to estimate the fluxes of N2O from a typical overwintering area, where the combined effects of soil compaction and deposition of urine and dung occur