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Monday, November 5, 2007
109-5

Interactions of Cropping History and Residue Management Determine Acceptable Limits for Corn Stover Biofuel Harvest.

Keith Paustian1, Mark Easter1, Kendrick Killian1, Amy Swan1, Steve Williams1, and Karolien Denef2. (1) 200 West Lake Street/Central Rec., Colorado State University, Colorado State University, Natural Resource Ecology Lab, Fort Collins, CO 80523, (2) Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

We analyzed variable rates of corn (Zea mays L.) stover removal from center-pivot irrigated corn in western Nebraska to assess impacts on soil carbon maintenance, soil erosion and net greenhouse gas emissions of stover-to-ethanol production. Field level simulation analyses showed significantly higher recovery rates of stover under no-till conditions compared to reduced and conventional tillage, to maintain similar soil C stock levels. However, management history, specifically time under irrigation, had the largest influence on soil C response to varying levels of stover removal. Regional scale analyses were done for a 12 country region surrounding Imperial, NE to estimate soil C, erosion and net greenhouse gas emissions for different stover supply levels.

Back to Symposium-- Implications of Bioenergy Production for Agricultural Development
Back to S06 Soil & Water Management & Conservation

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 4-8, 2007)