Predicted annual biomass input to maintain soil organic carbon under contrasting management

Gollany, Hero T.; Nash, Pat R.; Johnson, Jane M.‐F.; Barbour, Nancy W.

doi:10.1002/agj2.20068

Title: Predicted annual biomass input to maintain soil organic carbon under contrasting management

Journal Article · 21 January 2020 · Agronomy Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20068 · OSTI ID:1836062

^[1]; Nash, Pat R. ^[2];

^[3]; Barbour, Nancy W. ^[3]

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Adams, OR (United States). Agricultural Research Service; Antares Group Inc.
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Columbia, MO (United States). Agricultural Research Service
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Morris, MN (United States). Agricultural Research Service

Corn (Zea mays L.) residue is an important source of lignocellulosic feedstocks for meeting the US renewable energy goals. However, there is uncertainty in how much biomass can be sustainably harvested. The objectives of this study were to (i) simulate soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in the 0–20, 20–30, and 0–30 cm soil depths for the 2005–2015 study period using CQESTR, a process-based C model; (ii) establish trends in SOC with residue removal and tillage management over the predictive period of 2016–2035; and (iii) recommend practices to maintain SOC stocks in a corn–soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr.]) rotation with corn residue removal in western Minnesota. The residue removal treatments in the conventional tillage since 1995 (CT₉₅) and no tillage since 1995 (NT₉₅) were initiated in 2005, and in 2006 for the no tillage since 2005 (NT₀₅). Corn residue removal treatments were none, cob removal, ~50% removal, and ~75% removal (R0, RCob, R50, and R75, respectively). Only R0 in NT₀₅ increased SOC (0.32 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1) stocks in the top 30 cm soil depth by 2035 with annual aboveground biomass input of 6.30 Mg ha^–1 yr^–1. It was concluded that only the NT₀₅ field has the potential to maintain SOC at the current rate of biomass addition, and a minimal annual aboveground C (MSC) input of 3.75 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1 is required to maintain SOC until 2035. These simulation results indicate that caution should be used in removing residue especially under conventional tillage.

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Research Organization:: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Adams, OR (United States). Agricultural Research Service

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007088

OSTI ID:: 1836062

Report Number(s):: DOE-ANTARES--07088-4

Journal Information:: Agronomy Journal, Journal Name: Agronomy Journal Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 112; ISSN 0002-1962

Publisher:: Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science SocietiesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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