Multi-scale Measurements and Modeling of Greenhouse Gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) Emissions from Beef and Dairy Cattle in Grazing Environments.

Greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emissions from livestock, grasslands and croplands are affected by multi-scale factors ranging from microbes in the soils to human management practices in agricultural and livestock production systems. Significant progress has been made in multi-scale measurements and modeling of GHG fluxes across the scales of microbe, plot (stationary soil chambers, automated soil chambers), and ecosystems/landscapes (eddy flux tower systems), as well as individual livestock. This presentation will synthesize results from integrated research on beef and dairy systems in the central USA on data-model integration and model simulations across the geographical scales from individual plots, field, farm, to landscape.