Emissions of NH3, N2O and CH4 from dairy cows housed in a farmyard manure tying stall (housing, manure storage, manure spreading)

Emission measurements from dairy cows housed in a tying stall were carried out with the aim of finding factors that influence the amount of emissions and means to reduce emissions. All sectors of animal husbandry were investi gated. This enabled calculations of emissions for the whole management syst em including housing, storage and spreading of manure. Emissions during aer obic composting and anaerobic stacking of farmyard manure were compared. NH 3 and N2O emissions from tying stalls for dairy cows are low (5.8 g NH3 LU- 1 d(-1), 619.2 mg N2O LU(-)1 d(-1)). Methane emissions from the animal hous ing are mainly caused by enteric fermentation. During storage and after spr eading of farmyard manure substantial differences concerning NH3, N2O and C H4 emissions were observed with composted and anaerobically stacked farmyar d manure. The compost emitted more NH3 than the anaerobically stacked farmy ard manure. About one third of the NH3 emissions from the anaerobically sta cked farmyard manure occurred after spreading. Total N losses were at a low level with both storage systems. Greenhouse gas emissions (N2O and CH4) we re much higher from the anaerobically stacked farmyard manure than from the composted one. As these are ecologically harmful gases, they have to be co nsidered when judging the form of manure treatment.