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Corn Stover to Sustain Soil Organic Carbon Further Constrains Biomass Supply

^a USDA-ARS, Agroecosystem Management Res. Unit, 117 Keim Hall, Lincoln NE 68583-0934
^b USDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conserv. Res. Lab, 803 Iowa Ave., Morris, MN 56267
^c USDA-ARS, National Soil Tilth Lab., 2150 Pammel Dr., Ames, IA, 50011-3120
^d National Soil Survey Center, 100 Centennial Mall N. Rm 152, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866

^* Corresponding author (Wally.Wilhelm{at}ars.usda.gov)

Sustainable aboveground crop biomass harvest estimates for cellulosic ethanol production, to date, have been limited by the need for residue to control erosion. Recently, estimates of the amount of corn (Zea mays L.) stover needed to maintain soil carbon, which is responsible for favorable soil properties, were reported (5.25–12.50 Mg ha^–1). These estimates indicate stover needed to maintain soil organic carbon, and thus productivity, are a greater constraint to environmentally sustainable cellulosic feedstock harvest than that needed to control water and wind erosion. An extensive effort is needed to develop advanced cropping systems that greatly expand biomass production to sustainably supply cellulosic feedstock without undermining crop and soil productivity.

Abbreviations: K, soil erodibility • RUSLE2, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, version 2 • SOC, soil organic carbon • T, tolerable soil loss • WEPS, Wind Erosion Prediction System