Effects of yak dung on greenhouse gas emission during growing season in the alpine meadow

In order to understand the impacts of yak dung on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the growing season, nitrous oxide(N2O), methane(CH4), and carbon oxide(CO2) fluxes in Kobresia-dominanted meadow were measured by the static opaque chamber-gas chromatograph method. The results showed that the application of dung had distinct stimulating effects for N2O, CH4, and CO2 fluxes, which occurred during the 1-50 days after application although the peak value presented at different time. The global warming potential induced by GHG emissions after dung application increased by 39.2%. The global warming potential and the cumulative flux of N2O, CH4, and CO2 during three months research period after dung application was 2 102, 0.095, 0.412 and 2 064 g·m-2, respectively. Emission-time pattern of greenhouse gas should be paid more attention to assess global change to animals’ excrements as yak dung patches were strong GHG source.