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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #247779
Title: Crop Yield and Greenhouse Gas Responses to Stover Harvest on Glacial Till Mollisol

Author
item Johnson, Jane
item Barbour, Nancy

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2010
Publication Date: 8/6/2010
Citation: Johnson, J.M., Barbour, N.W. 2010. Crop Yield and Greenhouse Gas Responses to Stover Harvest on Glacial Till Mollisol. In: Gilkes, R.J., Prakongkep, N., editors. Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science: Soil Solutions for a Changing World, August 1-6, 2010, Brisbane, Australia. p. 36-39.

Interpretive Summary: Renewable energy sources that lower the amount of fossil carbon released as carbon dioxide (CO2) are needed. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and increased atmospheric CO2 is linked to global warming. Reducing the amount of CO2 released from fossil fuels is a means to curtail atmospheric CO2 as a means to slow climate change. The term corn stover refers to the leaves, cobs, and stems remaining after corn grain is harvested. Corn stover has the potential to serve as a non-food bioenergy feedstock, especially in the Midwestern United States. The states producing the most corn are in Midwestern states such as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. Corn stover is important for protecting the soil against erosion. Soil temperature and water content are dynamic processes that are modified when stover is harvested compared to when it is returned to the field. The production of CO2 and nitrous oxide (N2O) (another greenhouse gas) is sensitive to temperature and moisture conditions. A study was conducted to determine what happens to corn and soybean yield, and measure greenhouse gas emission when corn stover is harvested at different rates. Corn and soybean were grown from 2005 to 2009 in rotation on plots managed without tillage. After corn grain harvest, stover was harvested from 0 of 8 (0%), 4 of 8 (50%), 6 of 8 (75%) and 8 of 8 (100%) rows using a forage harvester with a 76-cm swath. All soybean stubble was returned to the field. Two cycles of stover harvest did not reduce corn or soybean yield or alter CO2 or N2O emission. This information is important to scientists trying to understand relationships between stover harvest and soil processes including greenhouse gas emission. This information is also useful for the bioenergy industry seeking renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gas emission. [REAP and GRACEnet Publication]

Technical Abstract: Producing clean renewable energy and reducing climate change are interrelated issues. Corn stover is targeted as a potential non-food bioenergy feedstock, especially in the Midwestern United States. Crop residue management impacts soil water and temperature dynamics, which in turn can impact many soil processes. Stover harvest is expected to reduce soil cover and has the potential to reduce crop yield and impact carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Corn and soybean were grown from 2005 to 2009 in rotation on plots managed without tillage. After corn grain harvest, stover was harvested from 0 of 8 (0%), 4 of 8 (50%), 6 of 8 (75%) and 8 of 8 (100%) rows using a forage harvester with a 76-cm swath. All soybean stubble was returned to the field. Two cycles of stover harvest did not reduce corn or soybean yield or alter CO2 or N2O emission. [REAP and GRACEnet Publication]