Abstract :
[en] Methane emissions of a grazing herd of Belgian Blue cattle were estimated per individual on the field by combining eddy covariance measurements with geolocation of the cattle and a footprint model. This method allows the measurement of outdoor non-invasive methane emissions but is complex and subject to methodological issues. Estimated emissions were 220 ±35 g CH4 LU−1 day−1 (grams of methane per livestock unit per day), where the uncertainty corresponds to the random error and does not include any possible systematic error. Cattle behavior was also monitored and presented a clear daily pattern of activity with more intense grazing after sunrise and before sunset. However, no significant methane emission pattern could be associated with it, the diurnal emission variation being lower than the measurement precision.
Funders :
SPW Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement - Service Public de Wallonie. Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement [BE]
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