AbstractThis study evaluated the role of dung beetle species alone or associated under different species on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission, ammonia volatilization, and the performance of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)]. There were seven treatments, including two controls (soil and soil + dung without beetles), single species of Onthophagus taurus [Shreber, 1759] (1), Digitonthophagus gazella [Fabricius, 1787] (2), or Phanaeus vindex [MacLeay, 1819] (3); and their assemblages (1 + 2 and 1 + 2 + 3). Nitrous oxide emission was estimated for 24 days, when pearl millet was planted in sequence to assess growth, nitrogen yield (NY), and dung beetle activity. Dung beetle species presented greater N₂O flow of dung on the 6th day (80 g N₂O-N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) compared to soil and dung (2.6 g N₂O-N ha⁻¹ day⁻¹). Ammonia emissions varied with the presence of dung beetles (P < 0.05), and D. gazella had less NH₃⁻N on days 1, 6, and 12 with averages of 2061, 1526, and 1048 g ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively. The soil N content increased with dung + beetle application. Dung application affected pearl millet herbage accumulation (HA) regardless of dung beetle presence, and averages ranged from 5 to 8 g DM bucket⁻¹. A PCA analysis was applied to analyze variation and correlation to each variable, but it indicated a low principal component explanation (less than 80%), not enough to explain the variation in findings. Despite the greater dung removal, the largest species, P. vindex and their species combination, need to be more studied to get a better understanding about their contribution on greenhouse gases. The presence of dung beetles prior to planting improved pearl millet production by enhancing N cycling, although assemblages with the three beetle species enhanced N losses to the environment via denitrification.