To investigate the mechanisms of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission during intermittent aeration in the composting process, a laboratory scale experiment with continuous measurement of N2O emission was conducted with cattle manure. A low oxygen mode (2.5% oxygen in the inlet for 1 day), anaerobic mode (0.13% oxygen for 0.25 day), and aerated mode (20.5% oxygen for 2 days) were sequentially set up three times after 22 days of continuous aeration to replicate intermittent aeration. The total N2O emission was 0.26-0.35 mmol, 0.27-0.32 mmol, and 0.14-0.23 mmol during the low oxygen, anaerobic, and aerated modes, respectively. Denitrification was indicated as the main N2O emission pathway in the anaerobic and low-oxygen modes, while nitrification was indicated as the main pathway in the aerated mode and under continuous aeration. Results from this study suggest that nitrification is an important pathway for N2O emission as well as denitrification. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.