Question:
What effects do corn stover removal rates have on greenhouse gas emissions from cropland?
Answer:
In general, higher rates of residue removal decrease greenhouse gas emissions because there is less carbon and nitrogen returned to the soil. However, producers must take into account other impacts of stover removal, including a higher risk of soil erosion or lower soil productivity.
For more detailed information, see the CenUSA Fact Sheet Management Practices Impact Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Harvest of Corn Stover for Biofuels from CenUSA Collaborator Virginia L. Jin, Research Soil Scientist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service.