Agronomy Journal Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Agron. J. 96:1-17 (2004).
© American Society of Agronomy
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA

FORUM

Crop and Soil Productivity Response to Corn Residue Removal

A Literature Review

W. W. Wilhelm*,a, J. M. F. Johnsonb, J. L. Hatfieldc, W. B. Voorheesd and D. R. Lindene

a USDA-ARS, 120 Keim Hall, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0934
b USDA-ARS, 803 Iowa Ave., Morris, MN 56267-1065
c 108 Natl. Soil Tilth Lab., 2150 Pammel Drive, Ames, IA 50011-3120
d USDA-ARS (retired), 803 Iowa Ave., Morris, MN 56267-1065
e USDA-ARS (retired), 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108-0000

* Corresponding author (wwilhelm1{at}unl.edu).

Received for publication December 12, 2002. Society is facing three related issues: overreliance on imported fuel, increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and producing sufficient food for a growing world population. The U.S. Department of Energy and private enterprise are developing technology necessary to use high-cellulose feedstock, such as crop residues, for ethanol production. Corn (Zea mays L.) residue can provide about 1.7 times more C than barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues based on production levels. Removal of crop residue from the field must be balanced against impacting the environment (soil erosion), maintaining soil organic matter levels, and preserving or enhancing productivity. Our objective is to summarize published works for potential impacts of wide-scale, corn stover collection on corn production capacity in Corn Belt soils. We address the issue of crop yield (sustainability) and related soil processes directly. However, scarcity of data requires us to deal with the issue of greenhouse gases indirectly and by inference. All ramifications of new management practices and crop uses must be explored and evaluated fully before an industry is established. Our conclusion is that within limits, corn stover can be harvested for ethanol production to provide a renewable, domestic source of energy that reduces greenhouse gases. Recommendation for removal rates will vary based on regional yield, climatic conditions, and cultural practices. Agronomists are challenged to develop a procedure (tool) for recommending maximum permissible removal rates that ensure sustained soil productivity.

Abbreviations: {delta}13C, change in 13C atom percent • DOE, Department of Energy • HI, harvest index • SOC, soil organic carbon • SOM, soil organic matter




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