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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Soil, Water & Air Resources Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311745
Title: Balancing energy, conservation, and soil health requirements for plant biomass

Author
item Karlen, Douglas
item BEELER, LARRY - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item ONG, REBECCA - Michigan State University
item DALE, BRUCE - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2015
Publication Date: 9/1/2015
Citation: Karlen, D.L., Beeler, L.W., Ong, R.G., Dale, B.E. 2015. Balancing energy, conservation, and soil health requirements for plant biomass. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 70:279-287.

Interpretive Summary: Crop residues such as corn stover, the above-ground non-grain plant material, have traditionally been left on the soil surface to protect against wind and water erosion, harvested for animal feed and/or bedding before being returned to fields with the manure, or tilled into the soil as a source of carbon and nutrients. Society now has another need for a portion of these crop residues -- production of liquid fuels -- because global energy consumption is rapidly depleting fossil fuel reserves. This invited research editorial and accompanying presentations at the 15th joint Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) symposia examine conservation, energy, and wealth issues as well as landscape management strategies that can influence decisions regarding how to best use crop residues so that our soil, water, or air resources are not comprised. This manuscript will be of interest to conservationists, investors in bioenergy and bio-products, producers, scientists, and regulatory Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Technical Abstract: The importance of crop residue for mitigating water and wind erosion, sustaining soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, and providing animal feed and bedding is well recognized around the world. But, those critical needs are no longer the only factors influencing crop residue management decisions. Global energy consumption is rapidly depleting fossil fuel reserves, so producing liquid fuels from this plant material is no longer optional. The challenge faced by conservationists, land managers, and many others is to balance these demands without degrading soil health. Our goal for this research editorial and the presentations at the 15th joint Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) symposia is to examine conservation, energy, wealth, and landscape management strategies for optimizing the use of crop residues without compromising our soil, water, or air resources. We conclude that these multiple demands can be met through innovative research and development of sustainable land management plans.