The Effects of Corn Stover Removal Rate Under Conventional and No-Tillage on Corn Yields and GHG Emissions.

Corn stover is a value added commodity for corn producers but what is uncertain is the sustainable amount of corn stover that could be removed from the field.  A field study was established to examine the rate of corn stover removal (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%) under no-tillage and conventional tillage on two soil types (sandy loam and clay loam) in Southwestern Ontario. Corn grain yields, stover yields and soil organic C were determined on both sites in 2015 and 2016.  In addition, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions were measured during the growing season on the sandy loam soil. Preliminary results indicate that some stover removal can enhance crop emergence and yields on both the no-till and conventional tilled soils. Carbon dioxide was also found to decline with increasing stover removal rates.