Ammonia in atmosphere has a negative effect on the natural ecosystems, such as soil acidification and eutrophication, by wet and dry deposition. Livestock manure, compost, and fertilizer applications to arable land have been recognised as a major source of atmospheric ammonia emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of compost application techniques in reducing ammonia loss in upland soil. The reductions in ammonia emission were 70 and 15% for immediate rotary after application (IRA) and rotary at 3 day after application (RA-3d) in comparison with surface application (SA). Total ammonia emissions for 13 days, expressed as % ammonia-N applied with compost, were 42, 35.7, and 12.7% for SA, RA-3d, and IRA treatments, respectively. The ammonia emission rate fell rapidly 6 h after application and 61 % of total ammonia emission occurred within the first 24 h following surface application. The lime application along with compost significantly enhanced the total ammonia emission. Total ammonia emission for 22 days were 40.1, 31.4, and 27.7 kg/ha for immediate incorporation in soil after lime and compost application, lime incorporation in soil following 3 days after compost surface application, and compost incorporation in soil following 3 days after lime surface application, respectively. Therefore, lime and livestock manure compost application at the same time was not recommended for abatement of ammonia emission in upland soil.