Crop Residue Removal for Biomass Energy Production: Effects on Soils and Recommendations. Soil Quality-Agronomy Technical Note No. 19

摘要

Concerns about the security and sustainability of fossil fuel use, coupled with advances in biomass conversion technology, have renewed interest in crop residue as a biofuel to partially meet our energy needs (Glassner et al., 1999). In light of the renewed interest in domestic production of biofuels and other biomass energy, can a portion of the more than 500 million tons of crop residue produced each year be used to meet some of our energy needs. The answer is not straightforward since crop residues perform many positive functions for agricultural soils that reduce erosion and promote sustainable production.