Fungal contribution to nitrous oxide emissions from cattle impacted soils

► 63.8% of fungi isolated from winter pasture produced measurable amounts of N2O. ► Productive fungi transformed 0.2-18.4% of initial NO2--N in cultivation medium. ► Different N2O production patterns and rates (1-150 μg N2O-N d−1) were observed. ► Contribution of fungi might be of greater significance under specific conditions. ► N2O production by fungi explains variability in findings from previous experiments.