ARS | Publication request: Corn stover removal reduces grain yield on marginal soils

Submitted to: Natural Resources Research Update (NRRU)
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: October 24, 2008
Publication Date: March 5, 2009
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/17521
Citation: Varvel, G.E. 2009. Corn stover removal reduces grain yield on marginal soils. Natural Resources Research Update (NRRU). Update #238672. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/17521.

Technical Abstract: Crop residues such as corn stover (residue left after grain is harvested) are viewed as an abundant and inexpensive source of biomass that can be removed from fields to produce bioenergy. Assumptions include that with minimum or no-tillage farming methods, there will be no deleterious production or environment effects. Corn grown under no-till management in eastern Nebraska had significantly reduced corn grain yields after five years when approximately half the available corn stover was removed each year. Even with the use of no-tillage management, on marginal soils, the use of crop residues for bioenergy may decrease crop productivity. At the same time, switchgrass grown on this same site produced sufficient biomass to produce similar amounts of ethanol to the amount produced by using both the corn grain and approximately half of the corn stover. Producers may be able to produce a perennial crop such as switchgrass on these marginal soils for ethanol production and at the same time maintain or even possibly improve soil quality. Publications contributing to the NRRU Release as shown above: Varvel, G.E., K.P. Vogel, R.B. Mitchell, R.F. Follett, and J.M. Kimble. 2008. Comparison of corn and switchgrass on marginal soils for bioenergy. Biomass & Bioenergy. 32:18-21.