Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from Canadian animal agriculture: A review

Abstract

Considerable evidence of climate change associated with emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) has resulted in international efforts to reduce GHG emissions. The agriculture sector contributes about 8% of GHG emissions in Canada mostly through methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The objective of this paper was to compile an integrative review of CH4 and N2O emissions from livestock by taking a whole cycle approach from enteric fermentation to manure treatment and storage, and field application of manure. Basic microbial processes that result in CH4 production in the rumen and hindgut of animals were reviewed. An overview of CH4 and N2O production processes in manure, and controlling factors are presented. Most of the studies conducted in relation to enteric fermentation were in dairy and beef cattle. To date, research has focussed on GHG emissions from the stored manures of dairy, beef cattle and swine; therefore, we focus our review on these. Several methods used to measure GHG emissions from livestock and stored manure were reviewed. A comparison of methods showed that there were agreements between most of the techniques but some systematic differences were also observed. Additional studies with comprehensive comparisons of methodologies are needed in order to allow for comparison of results obtained from studies using contrasting methodologies. The need to standardize measurement methods and reporting to facilitate comparison of results and data integration was identified. Prediction equations are often used to calculate GHG emissions. Various types of mathematical approaches, such as statistical models, mechanistic models and estimates calculated from emission factors, and studies that compare various types of models are discussed herein. A lack of process-based models describing GHG emissions from manure during storage was identified. A brief description of mitigation strategies focussing on recent studies is given. Reduction in CH4 emissions from ruminants through the addition of fats in diets and the use of more starch was achieved and a transient beneficial effect of ionophores was reported. Grazing management and genetic selection also hold promise. Studies focussed on manure treatment options that thave been suggested to reduce gas fluxes from manure storage, composting, anaerobic digestion (AD), diet manipulation, covers and solid-liquid separation, were reviewed. While some of these options have been shown to decrease GHG emissions from stored manure, different studies have obtained conflicting results, and additional research is needed to identify the most promising options. GHG emissions from pasture and croplands after manure application have been the subject of several experimental and modelling studies, but few of these have linked field emissions to diet manipulation or manure treatments. Further work focussing on the entire cycle of GHG formation from feed formulation, animal metabolism, excreta treatment and storage, to field application of manure needs to be conducted. Key words: Greenhouse gases, enteric methane, nitrous oxide, manure management