Biochanin A feed supplementation alters dynamics of trace gas emissions from lamb urine-amended soil

Sustainable growth in livestock production requires reductions in trace gas emissions on grazing lands. Urine excreta patches are hot spots for accelerated emissions of carbon and nitrogen. Ruminant dietary supplementation with the isoflavone biochanin A (BCA) has been shown to improve cattle weight gain. To determine if BCA supplementation affects urine N excretion and soil trace gas emissions, soil in microcosms was amended with urine from lambs fed 0, 0.45, or 0.90 g BCA day⁻¹. Soil gas emissions were measured over 60 days and analyzed with a linear mixed-effects model with repeated measures. On 2 days during the incubation, BCA addition across doses significantly reduced nitrous oxide emissions by 73% and methane by 98% compared to urine from non-dosed lambs. Cumulative ammonia volatilization was significantly reduced by 33% but cumulative nitrous oxide and methane emissions were not. Alterations in trace gas emissions occurred despite no change in urine N content with BCA feed supplementation. A separate laboratory incubation using urine from a non-supplemented lamb that was exogenously spiked with varying BCA concentrations supported these results: BCA significantly altered ammonia and methane emission dynamics and reduced cumulative nitrous oxide emissions by up to 41%. BCA did not change soil microbial community structure, suggesting alterations to other processes, such as soil enzyme activity, were affecting soil trace gas emissions. Overall, lamb BCA supplementation did not affect urine N but reduced ammonia volatilization, which may contribute to greater sustainability in livestock production systems.