Agriculture activities account for 58% of total anthropogenic emissions of nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) with global warming potential of 298 times as compared to carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) on molecule to molecule basis. Quantifying $N_2O$ from managed soil is essential to develop national inventories of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of the study was to compare $N_2O$ emission from livestock compost applied arable land with that for fertilizer treatment. The study was conducted for two years by cultivating Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do. Accumulated $N_2O$ emission during cultivation of Chinese cabbage after applying livestock compost was slightly greater than that for chemical fertilizer. Slightly greater $N_2O$ emission factor for livestock compost was observed than that for chemical fertilizer possibly due to lump application of livestock compost before crop cultivation compared with split application of chemical fertilizers and enhanced denitrification activity through increased carbon availability by organic matter in livestock compost.