Corn Stover Removal Responses on Soil Test P and K Levels in Coastal Plain Ultisols

Jeffrey M. Novak, James R. Frederick, Don W. Watts, Thomas F. Ducey and Douglas L. Karlen
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Jeffrey M. Novak: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, Florence, SC 29501, USA
James R. Frederick: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Don W. Watts: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Thomas F. Ducey: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Douglas L. Karlen: D.L. Karlen Consulting LLC, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Corn ( Zea mays L.) stover is used as a biofuel feedstock in the U.S. Selection of stover harvest rates for soils is problematic, however, because excessive stover removal may have consequences on plant available P and K concentrations. Our objective was to quantify stover harvest impacts on topsoil P and K contents in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain Ultisols. Five stover harvest rates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% by wt) were removed for five years from replicated plots. Grain and stover mass with P and K concentration data were used to calculate nutrient removal. Mehlich 1 (M1)-extractable P and K concentrations were used to monitor changes within the soils. Grain alone removed 13–15 kg ha −1 P and 15–18 kg ha −1 K each year, resulting in a cumulative removal of 70 and 85 kg ha −1 or 77 and 37% of the P and K fertilizer application, respectively. Harvesting stover increased nutrient removal such that when combined with grain removed, a cumulative total of 95% of the applied P and 126% of fertilizer K were taken away. This caused M1 P and K levels to decline significantly in the first year and even with annual fertilization to remain relatively static thereafter. For these Ultisols, we conclude that P and K fertilizer recommendations should be fine-tuned for P and K removed with grain and stover harvesting and that stover harvest of >50% by weight will significantly decrease soil test M1 P and K contents.

Keywords: cellulosic biomass; corn stover harvest; nutrient budget; plant available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K); Ultisols (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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