Vertical Distribution of Structural Components in Corn Stover

Jane M. F. Johnson, Douglas L. Karlen, Garold L. Gresham, Keri B. Cantrell, David W. Archer, Brian J. Wienhold, Gary E. Varvel, David A. Laird, John Baker, Tyson E. Ochsner, Jeff M. Novak, Ardell D. Halvorson, Francisco Arriaga, David T. Lightle, Amber Hoover, Rachel Emerson and Nancy W. Barbour
Additional contact information
Jane M. F. Johnson: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, 803 Iowa Avenue, Morris, MN 56267, USA
Douglas L. Karlen: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, 2110 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Garold L. Gresham: US-Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2025, USA
Keri B. Cantrell: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Coastal Plains Research Center, 2611 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501, USA
David W. Archer: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 459, Mandan, ND 58554, USA
Brian J. Wienhold: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, 117 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
Gary E. Varvel: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, 117 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
David A. Laird: Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 2104 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
John Baker: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, 439 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
Tyson E. Ochsner: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 368 Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078-6028, USA
Jeff M. Novak: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Coastal Plains Research Center, 2611 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501, USA
Ardell D. Halvorson: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D. Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
Francisco Arriaga: Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1299, USA
David T. Lightle: CPESC #651, 105 Meadow Lane, Labadie, MO 63055, USA
Amber Hoover: US-Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2025, USA
Rachel Emerson: US-Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2025, USA
Nancy W. Barbour: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, 803 Iowa Avenue, Morris, MN 56267, USA

Agriculture, 2014, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: In the United States, corn ( Zea mays L.) stover has been targeted for second generation fuel production and other bio-products. Our objective was to characterize sugar and structural composition as a function of vertical distribution of corn stover (leaves and stalk) that was sampled at physiological maturity and about three weeks later from multiple USA locations. A small subset of samples was assessed for thermochemical composition. Concentrations of lignin, glucan, and xylan were about 10% greater at grain harvest than at physiological maturity, but harvestable biomass was about 25% less due to stalk breakage. Gross heating density above the ear averaged 16.3 ± 0.40 MJ kg ?1 , but with an alkalinity measure of 0.83 g MJ ?1 , slagging is likely to occur during gasification. Assuming a stover harvest height of 10 cm, the estimated ethanol yield would be >2500 L ha ?1 , but it would be only 1000 L ha ?1 if stover harvest was restricted to the material from above the primary ear. Vertical composition of corn stover is relatively uniform; thus, decision on cutting height may be driven by agronomic, economic and environmental considerations.

Keywords: lignocellulosic biomass; theoretical ethanol yield; soil organic carbon; sustainable; bioenergy; second generation feedstock (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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