Dairy farming systems are a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. T
he aim of our study was to explore the possibilities to reduce N2O emission
s from intensively managed dairy farming systems using a system analysis an
d literature data. Intensively managed grasslands are the dominant source o
f N2O emission in dairy farming systems. There are several measures to miti
gate N2O emission from these grasslands, categorized in three broad groups:
improved N fertilizer management, improved grassland management and improv
ed management of livestock production. A reduction of N2O emission from int
ensively managed dairy farming systems up to 70% may be achieved through im
plementation of a package of measures to improve nitrogen (N) management, i
ncluding refined N fertilizer application, reduction of NH3 volatilization,
restricted grazing, use of maize silage, and the use of clover as an alter
native for N fertilizer.