ABSTRACT
Residue removal could degrade crop production potential
or require alternative soil amendments, crop nutrients or
erosion mitigation measures to make up for residue losses.
The value of nutrients was estimated to be $9-15 Mg-1 of
rice straw in one study.[1] Erosion control value may be
more nebulous, but Midwest corn stover recommendations
include leaving a 10 cm anchored stubble to prevent wind
erosion and 30-40% of the stover to minimize erosion
caused by rainfall.[8] On the other hand, residue removal
offsets costs associated with such alternative residue man-
agement operations as chopping and/or soil incorporation
to facilitate machine operations, improve soil properties, or
reduce insect survival. For example, residue harvest can
replace the chopping and incorporation of cotton residues
to reduce insect overwintering sites or substitute for pro-
hibited burning of rice stalks and sugar cane leaves.
A multicriteria approach to harvesting system selection
may be useful to indicate the best methods for meeting
conflicting economic, environmental, and other sustain-
able harvest goals.
