ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CORN STOVER REMOVAL Location: Soil and
Water Management Research Project Number: 3640-12000-008-02
Specific Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Jul 13, 2009 End
Date: Sep 30, 2013 Determine the amount of corn stover residue
needed to maintain soil C content (soil quality) and crop
productivity. The field experiment will include replicated plots
established at three sites using continuous corn management
practices, two corn stover harvest treatments will consist of
0%, ~50%, and ~100% residue removal. The stover harvest
treatments will be imposed using a single pass grain and stover
harvester. At the beginning and end of the study, soil samples
will be collected to approximately 4-5 feet to document soil C
and N distribution and other soil properties needed to define
soil quality. Soil samples will be collected at depths of 0-6
inches, 6-12 inches, and one foot increments following. The
minimum data to be collected at all depths for each plot are:
total organic C and N, bulk density, oil-