Greenhouse Gas Emission from Beef-Cattle Grazing Systems in Temperate Grasslands.

At a global scale, cattle production is responsible for 65% of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. In Unites States, during 2014 cattle management was the largest emitters of methane (CH4) representing a 23.2% of the total CH4 from anthropogenic activities. During the last 15 years CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural activities have increased by 12% and 6%, respectively. Cattle grazing, weather conditions and fire regimes are the major factors of tallgrass prairie.This study analyzed the emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O in cattle grazing system under annual burning and burning every three years on offset years on a temperate grassland at the Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS). Data gathered at KPBS since 2014 implies consumption of CH4 and N2O; with increased consumption with patch burning. Burning regimes had no effect in N2O emissions. Annual burning had lower CO2 emissions than sites burned every three years. There was a significant difference with the interaction of emissions and season. Maximum CO2 and CH4 fluxes coincide with high biomass during summer and fall. Weather and edaphologic conditions during fall and winter increased N2O fluxes. Results showed a decrease in CO2 and CH4 fluxes, and N2O and CH4 soil uptake during winter. This experiment results quantify the role of temperate grasslands as a sink of CH4 and N2O, and to understand best practices for beef cattle management.