The broad impacts of corn stover and wheat straw removal for biofuel production on crop productivity, soil health and greenhouse gas emissions: A review

• Published in: Global change biology. Bioenergy 2021-01, Vol.13 (1), p.45-57
• Main Authors: Battaglia, Martín, Thomason, Wade, Fike, John H., Evanylo, Gregory K., Cossel, Moritz, Babur, Emre, Iqbal, Yasir, Diatta, Andre A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Biodiesel fuels; bioeconomy; bioenergy; Biofuels; Bulk density; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; climate change adaptation; Constraining; Corn; Crop diseases; Crop production; crop productivity; Crop residues; Crop yield; Cropping systems; Crops; ecosystem service; Emissions; environmental sustainability; Fluxes; Grain; Greenhouse effect; greenhouse gas mitigation; Greenhouse gases; Leaching; Loam soils; Nitrogen; Nitrous oxide; nutrient cycling; Nutrients; Organic soils; Potassium; Residues; Runoff; Soil density; Soil depth; Soil erosion; soil health; Soil layers; Soil management; Soil stability; Soil water; Sorghum; Stover; Straw; Sustainability; Tillage; Wheat; Wheat straw
• ISSN: 1757-1693; 1757-1707
• DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12774

Biofuel production from crop residues is widely recognized as an essential component of developing a bioeconomy, but the removal of crop residues still raises many questions about the sustainability of the cropping system. Therefore, this study reviews the sustainability effects of crop residues removal for biofuel production in terms of crop production, soil health and greenhouse gas emissions. Most studies found little evidence that residue management had long‐term impacts on grain yield unless the available water is limited. In years when water was not limiting, corn and wheat removal rates ≥90% produced similar or greater grain yield than no removal in most studies. Conversely, when water was limiting, corn grain yield decreased up to 21% with stover removal ≥90% in some studies. Changes in soil organic fractions and nutrients depended largely on the amount of residue returned, soil depth and texture, slope and tillage. Reductions in organic fractions occurred primarily with complete stover removal, in the top 15–30 cm in fine‐textured soils. Soil erosion, water runoff and leaching of nutrients such as total nitrogen (N) and extractable soil potassium decreased when no more than 30% of crop residues were removed. Stover management effects on soil bulk density varied considerably depending on soil layer, and residue and tillage management, with removal rates of less than 50% helping to maintain the soil aggregate stability. Reductions in CO2 and N2O fluxes typically occurred following complete residue removal. The use of wheat straw typically increased CH4 emissions, and above or equal to 8 Mg/ha wheat straw led to the largest CO2 and N2O emissions, regardless of N rates. Before using crop residues for biofuel production, it should therefore always be checked whether neutral to positive sustainability effects can be maintained under the site‐specific conditions. Biofuel production from crop residues is widely recognized as an essential component of developing a bioeconomy, but the removal of crop residues still raises many questions about the overall sustainability of the cropping system. Before using crop residues for biofuel production, it should therefore always be checked whether neutral to positive sustainability effects can be maintained under the site‐specific conditions.