Assessing the Value of Grazed Corn Residue for Crop and Cattle Producers

Redfearn, Daren D.; Parsons, Jay; Drewnoski, Mary E.; Schmer, Marty R.; Mitchell, Rob; MacDonald, James C.; Farney, J. K.; Smart, Alexander J.

doi:10.2134/ael2018.12.0066

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Annual grain crop residue is commonly grazed in Nebraska with no negative impact on yield of subsequent crops in a rotation (Rakkar & Blanco‐Canqui, 2018; Redfearn et al., 2019). The principal agronomic concern with livestock grazing is the potential for soil compaction.…”

Section: Regional Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

et al. 2021

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Wheat (Triticum spp.) dominates dryland grain crop production in the North American Great Plains and other regions with semi‐arid steppe climates. A common practice is to alternate winter or spring wheat with a 14‐ to 21‐mo fallow period to allow for soil‐water recharge, despite economic inefficiencies and environmental degradation. Replacing fallow with non‐cereal grain and seed crops often reduces future wheat yields due to increased water stress during grain fill. The use of annual forages may not have the disadvantages associated with grain and seed crops. The objective of this review was to determine benefits and challenges of incorporating annual forages into dryland wheat systems in semi‐arid steppe climates, using the Great Plains within the United States as a model system. Results indicate that: (a) cool‐ and warm‐season, annual grass and broadleaf species can be grown for forage across the region; (b) forage production will be less risky than grain and seed crop production under predicted climate‐change scenarios; (c) grazing annual forages may offer advantages (e.g., nutrient cycling, improved soil structure, added revenue from livestock) over mechanically harvesting annual forages; (d) the lack of infrastructure and local markets impede the use of annual forages to diversify wheat‐based cropping systems in the region; and (e) limited networking among researchers hinders the advancement in knowledge on how annual forages can be used to improve dryland wheat system resilience.

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Section: Regional Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

et al. 2021

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“…Moreover, direct grazing of crop residues after grain harvest can reduce feed costs [3], decrease the need for fertilizer inputs [69], and enhance cash crop yield [70]. Regional producers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota already report substantial corn acreage used for residue grazing by livestock, ranging from 18 to 56% [71,72]. While challenges exist for expanding corn residue utilization for livestock grazing, stover can provide a cost-efficient winter forage for beef cows and enhance the net return to both crop and livestock enterprises through integration [72].…”

Section: Land-use Effects On Soil N 2 Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Greenhouse Gas Responses to Biomass Removal in the Annual and Perennial Cropping Phases of an Integrated Crop Livestock System

et al. 2021

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Diversifying agronomic production systems by combining crops and livestock (i.e., Integrated Crop Livestock systems; ICL) may help mitigate the environmental impacts of intensive single-commodity production. In addition, harvesting row-crop residues and/or perennial biomass could increase the multi-functionality of ICL systems as a potential source for second-generation bioenergy feedstock. Here, we evaluated non-CO2 soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both row-crop and perennial grass phases of a field-scale model ICL system established on marginally productive, poorly drained cropland in the western US Corn Belt. Soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) were measured during the 2017–2019 growing seasons under continuous corn (Zea mays L.) and perennial grass treatments consisting of a common pasture species, ‘Newell’ smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.), and two cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), ‘Liberty’ and ‘Shawnee.’ In the continuous corn system, we evaluated the impact of stover removal by mechanical baling vs. livestock grazing for systems with and without winter cover crop, triticale (x Triticosecale neoblaringhemii A. Camus; hexaploid AABBRR). In perennial grasslands, we evaluated the effect of livestock grazing vs. no grazing. We found that (1) soil N2O emissions are generally higher in continuous corn systems than perennial grasslands due to synthetic N fertilizer use; (2) winter cover crop use had no effect on total soil GHG emissions regardless of stover management treatment; (3) stover baling decreased total soil GHG emissions, though grazing stover significantly increased emissions in one year; (4) grazing perennial grasslands tended to increase GHG emissions in pastures selected for forage quality, but were highly variable from year to year; (5) ICL systems that incorporate perennial grasses will provide the most effective GHG mitigation outcomes.

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“…For example, in Nebraska around 1.9 million hectares are grazed and 48,000 ha baled (Schmer et al., 2017). Across a four‐state area with large beef cattle industry, including Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Kansas, corn residues have a value of about US$74.6 million (Redfearn et al., 2019). While corn residues have high value potential, questions exist regarding the impact of corn residue grazing and baling on subsequent crop yields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corn residue baling and grazing impacts on corn yield under irrigated conservation tillage systems

et al. 2021

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Crop residue grazing or baling is common in the western Corn Belt. However, its impacts on subsequent crop yields under different irrigation levels and tillage systems are unclear. We investigated the impacts of corn (Zea mays L.) residue baling and cattle grazing on soil compaction, water content, and corn yield under full and limited irrigated no-till in Nebraska during three years. In Years 2 and 3, an additional tillage treatment (strip till) was implemented to evaluate its effects on grain yield under the above treatments. Residue removal effects on compaction and water content did not vary with irrigation level. Grazing (3.68 animal units ha −1 ) minimally impacted compaction and soil profile water content compared to no removal. Baling increased cone index by 34-53% in the 0-to-12.5-cm depth and decreased water content by 6 cm compared to no removal. Residue removal effects on yield did not depend on irrigation. Residue removal impacts depended on tillage in Year 3 only. Full irrigation increased corn yields up to 11% compared to limited irrigation. Strip till increased yield by 11% compared to no-till in Year 2 only. Baling and grazing had no effect on corn yield in Year 1, but baling and grazing increased yield by 9% compared to no removal in Year 2, likely due to lower water content. In Year 3, grazing and baling increased yield by 9% under no-till but not strip till. Overall, grazing had minimal impacts while baling increased yield and compaction and decreased water content with few variations due to irrigation or tillage. INTRODUCTIONBaling and grazing corn residues from the approximately 37 million hectares planted to corn (Zea mays L.) in the United States (USDA-NASS, 2017) are important to meet the need for animal feed and biofuel feedstocks. Corn residues are important feedstocks as pastureland shortages increase (Liebig et al., 2017). However, the amount of corn residue baled and grazed varies by region.

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Assessing the Value of Grazed Corn Residue for Crop and Cattle Producers

Cited by 16 publications

References 20 publications

Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

Soil Greenhouse Gas Responses to Biomass Removal in the Annual and Perennial Cropping Phases of an Integrated Crop Livestock System

Corn residue baling and grazing impacts on corn yield under irrigated conservation tillage systems

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