Today, agriculture is at a crossroads. It is receiving increased attention as the nation is concerned about its ability to meet food, feed and fiber demands along with increasing fuel demands. This chapter examines the use of crop residues in a conservation tillage system as a source of cellulosic fuel, as well as the economic potential of growing a dedicated energy crop to meet the demand for cellulosic feedstocks.
There are economic and conservation trade-offs to consider when thinking about harvesting a crop residue such as corn stover for use as a feedstock. Crop residue left on the soil surface provides important agronomic benefits that influence yield, including reduced erosion, improved water retention, the recycling of nutrients and improved soil health. Studies have shown that removing residue from fields negatively affects crop yields and can outweigh the financial gains from harvesting residue for bioenergy. If crop residue removal is to become a sustainable strategy for supplying energy feedstock, more research is needed on acceptable levels of residue removal.
Growing dedicated energy crops on marginal agricultural land offers a potentially viable option, particularly in the Southeast. An example crop is switchgrass, an herbaceous perennial. This chapter analyzes the economic feasibility of growing switchgrass in various scenarios that take into account emerging issues in establishment, production, harvest and handling. Stand establishment and lifespan are critical variables when evaluating the economics of switchgrass, as are the availability of a buyer and the costs associated with long-term storage and transportation. The chapter also discusses the role policy incentives play in the financial feasibility of switchgrass production, particularly the Bioenergy Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).
Download the tables from Chapter 16.
Table of Contents
- Author and Contributor List
- Foreword
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Conservation Tillage Systems
- Chapter 2: Conservation Tillage Systems: History, the Future and Benefits
- Chapter 3: Benefits of Increasing Soil Organic Matter
- Chapter 4: The Calendar: Management Tasks by Season
- Chapter 5: Cover Crop Management
- Chapter 6: In-Row Subsoiling to Disrupt Soil Compaction
- Chapter 7: Cash Crop Selection and Rotation
- Chapter 8: Sod, Grazing and Row-Crop Rotation: Enhancing Conservation Tillage
- Chapter 9: Planting in Cover Crop Residue
- Chapter 10: Soil Fertility Management
- Chapter 11: Weed Management and Herbicide Resistance
- Chapter 12: Plant-Parasitic Nematode Management
- Chapter 13: Insect Pest Management
- Chapter 14: Water Management
- Chapter 15: Conservation Economics: Budgeting, Cover Crops and Government Programs
- Chapter 16: Biofuel Feedstock Production: Crop Residues and Dedicated Bioenergy Crops
- Chapter 17: Tennessee Valley and Sandstone Plateau Region Case Studies
- Chapter 18: Southern Coastal Plain and Atlantic Coast Flatwoods Case Studies
- Cash Crop Selection and Crop Rotations
- Specific Management Considerations
- Case Study Farms
- Producer Experiences
- Transition to No-Till
- Changes in Natural Resources
- Changes in Agricultural Production
- Specialty Crops
- Why Change to No-Till?
- Supporting Technologies and Practices
- The Future
- Research Case Study
- Summary
- Chapter 19: Alabama and Mississippi Blackland Prairie Case Studies
- Chapter 20: Southern Piedmont Case Studies
- Appendix
- Glossary
- References