Grassland plant species and cultivar effects on nitrous oxide emissions after urine application

Nitrous oxide emissions from soil after the addition of animal urine varied depending on the identity of the plants growing in that soil. Plants with the highest rate of nitrogen uptake had the lowest emissions although nitrogen was in excess of plant demand suggesting this was not an effect based on competition for nitrogen (with microbes) per se. Plants with high nitrogen uptake also had lower soil nitrification and this is known to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.139