ABSTRACT
Introduction Global shortages of fossil energy especially of oil and natural gas have encouraged governmental and corporate interest in biomass as an energy source (Pimentel and Pimentel 2008). As interest in biofuels as a renewable energy source has developed globally, this focus has emphasized biofuels made mainly from corn grain, soybeans, canola, and sugarcane. Such changes have rarely led to responsible alterations in land management practices. For example, using crop residues as an energy source has a devastating impact on agriculture and food production because removing crop residues increases soil erosion and with it the removal of vital nutrients from the soil (Pimentel and Pimentel 2008; Lal 2009).
