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Impact of Corn Stover on Soil Microbes
Author(s) -
Hmielowski Tracy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
csa news
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2325-3584
pISSN - 1529-9163
DOI - 10.2134/csa2018.63.0602
Subject(s) - stover , corn stover , agronomy , environmental science , crop residue , fertilizer , agriculture , tillage , soil carbon , soil organic matter , nutrient , agricultural science , crop , soil water , biofuel , biology , ecology , soil science
stalks, and even some cobs remain. This residue, called corn stover, can be left in the field to return organic matter and nutrients, promote soil health, and help to reduce erosion. Stover can also be harvested and used as livestock feed or as feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Using stover in this way removes organic matter from the agroecosystem, but for a cash-strapped farmer, it may make or break their profits for the season.