Ohio State Study Gauges Fuel Crop Affects On Soil

CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--New research focusing on corn residue as an ethanol feedstock is predicting some grim results for future soil conditions if the process continues to expand.

After three years of research, Ohio State University released the initial findings comparing the use of different cellulose biomasses for ethanol production and their affects on the soil.

"We are trying to find out the impact of switchgrass on soil quality in comparison with removing crop residue for ethanol production," said Rattan Lal, an Ohio State professor of soil science and director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center's Carbon Management and Sequestration Center. "In general, we find that if you remove the corn stover it has an adverse impact on soil quality."

Corn stover is what is left over after the crop is harvested for grain. Many times it is left in the ground to prevent soil erosion. High petroleum prices and a mandate on using renewable energy has increased ethanol production, which is primary corn-based in the U.S. There's has been greater interest in using cellulosic ethanol to expand production beyond corn.

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