Multilocation Corn Stover Harvest Effects on Crop

Authors: Douglas L Karlen Stuart J Birrell Jane M F Johnson Shannon L Osborne Thomas E Schumacher Gary E Varvel Richard B Ferguson Jeff M Novak James R Fredrick John M Baker John A Lamb Paul R Adler Greg W Roth Emerson D Nafziger

Publish Date: 2014/02/07

Volume: 7, Issue: 2, Pages: 528-539

PDF Link

Abstract

Corn Zea mays L stover was identified as an important feedstock for cellulosic bioenergy production because of the extensive area upon which the crop is already grown This report summarizes 239 siteyears of field research examining effects of zero moderate and high stover removal rates at 36 sites in seven different states Grain and stover yields from all sites as well as N P and K removal from 28 sites are summarized for nine longitude and six latitude bands two tillage practices conventional vs no tillage two stoverharvest methods machine vs calculated and two crop rotations continuous corn maize vs corn/soybean Glycine max L Merr Mean grain yields ranged from 50 to 120 Mg ha−1 80 to 192 bu ac−1 Harvesting an average of 39 or 72 Mg ha−1 17 or 32 tons ac−1 of the corn stover resulted in a slight increase in grain yield at 57 and 51  of the sites respectively Average notill grain yields were significantly lower than with conventional tillage when stover was not harvested but not when it was collected Plant samples collected between physiological maturity and combine harvest showed that compared to not harvesting stover N P and K removal was increased by 24 27 and 31 kg ha−1 respectively with moderate 39 Mg ha−1 harvest and by 47 55 and 62 kg ha−1 respectively with high 72 Mg ha−1 removal This data will be useful for verifying simulation models and available corn stover feedstock projections but is too variable for planning sitespecific stover harvestThe US Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race color age sex or national origin and is an equalopportunity employer This research was funded by the USDAAgricultural Research Service as part of the USDAARS Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices REAP project with additional funds from the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center at South Dakota State University through a grant provided by the US Department of Energy DOE—Office of Biomass Programs now known as the Bioenergy Technology Office BETO under award number DEFC3605GO85041

Keywords: