Agriculture & emissions
Manure Management
Definition
Manure management covers the systems used to store, treat and dispose of livestock manure — lagoons, liquid slurry systems, solid storage, anaerobic digesters, pasture deposition. It is a distinct source category (3.B) in IPCC greenhouse gas inventories, generating methane (from anaerobic decomposition, strongest in liquid systems and warm climates) and nitrous oxide (from nitrogen in storage and application).
References
category 3.B, CH4 and N2O estimation methods, emission factors by system and temperature
Overview
What it means
Emissions vary widely by system and climate: liquid storage under warm conditions drives high methane factors, while dry systems emit less. Management choices — covers, digesters, acidification, rapid field application — directly determine the footprint.
How it is used
Countries report manure emissions in national inventories using IPCC 2006 Guidelines (Vol. 4, Ch. 10); mitigation programmes promote anaerobic digestion (capturing biogas) and improved nutrient management.
Why it matters
Livestock manure is a significant agricultural methane source; better management cuts emissions, recovers energy and reduces water pollution from nutrient runoff.