Estimation of CH4 emissions from Livestock manure management in China

CH4 emission from animal manure management refers to the CH4 produced during the storage, treatment and land application of animal manure. The term “manure” is the feces (solid part) and urine (liquid part) excreted by livestock. The CH4 emission factors in the process of animal manure storage, treatment and land application depend on the characteristics of manure, manure management systems, the proportion of different manure management systems, and local climate conditions.

According to the breeding situation and the statistical data availability of livestock and poultry in China, the CH4emission sources of animal manure management include 14 kinds of animal manure, including swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle, buffalo, yak, other cattle, goat, sheep, horse, donkey, mule, camel, poultry and rabbit.

Following IPCC guidelines, livestock manure management  systems include Pasture/Range/Paddock, daily spread, solid storage, dry lot, liquid storage, lagoon, pit storage under barn, anaerobic digester, burned for fuel, deep bedding, composting, aerobic treatment and others.

At present, livestock manure is mainly used in dry land, fruit trees and vegetable fields after treatment in China, and there is no methane emission caused by anaerobic environment in these ways. The CH4 emission of livestock manure management in this report is estimated in the process of manure management including storage and treatment.