Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Effects of biomass harvest on soil erosion

Project ID: E2003-07

Abstract

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model was used to estimate the effects that harvesting corn residue would have on soil erosion. The erosion at different crop residue removal rates was compared on different soils and on different slopes.

Key Question: What rates of corn stover can be harvested from Iowa soils without excess erosion?

Findings: High rates of stover removal are possible on gentle slopes with no-till management or extended crop rotations that include perennial crops. On steep slopes, more intensive tillage systems (moldboard plow or even minimum tillage) are not sustainable in corn-bean rotations regardless of biomass removal rates.

Lead investigator: Tom Richard, ISU Agronomy, et al

Year of grant completion: 2009

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Topics: Bioeconomy and energy