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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212351
Title: Quantifying Total and Sustainable Agricultural Biomass Resources in South Dakota

Author
item Rosentrater, Kurt
item PERSYN, RUSSELL - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item TODEY, DENNIS - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2007
Publication Date: 6/19/2007
Citation: Rosentrater, K.A., Persyn, R., Todey, D. 2007. Quantifying Total and Sustainable Agricultural Biomass Resources in South Dakota. 2007 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Minneapolis MN, June 17-20, 2007. Available online: www.asabe.org.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conversion of biomass is considered the next major advance in biorenewable fuels, energy, and products. Wholesale conversion to biomass utilization could result in removal of current crop residues from agricultural fields or even implementation of different crops and cropping strategies (i.e., switchgrass). To date, the driver for biomass processing has been economics and limitations on the conversion of the lignocellulose. Over the last forty years significant investments and resultant changes in management practices in the agricultural sector have focused on soil and water conservation. One of the major efforts has focused on conservation-till or no-till, with the goal of retaining biomass residues in the field to prevent erosion and to improve soil structure. Environmental implications of significant changes to current cropping systems have not been thoroughly addressed, however. This paper will focus on using South Dakota as a case study to determine the potential for biomass and the implications thereof for the utilization of these materials. We will consider optimizing the amount of biomass that can be harvested with and without consideration of a minimum level of crop residue left in the field. Meeting our nation’s transportation fuel needs can be accomplished sustainably, but these issues need to be addressed now, at the outset of this revolution.