The stalks and leaves that remain after harvesting ears of corn make up what's called corn stover.The stalks and leaves that remain after harvesting ears of corn make up what's called corn stover. It contains a material, called lignin, which is in this way tough it resists the action of fermentation microbes used to change plant matter to ethanol. The undigested fibrous material remaining after fermenting alcohol from corn stover has a compostlike consistency and contains three times the nitrogen and lignin of the original cornstalks. likewise researchers wondered if this residue might be safely applied to soil to increase its structural stability and organic matter content They applied the fermentation by dint of product to two types of soil at three rates--up to the equivalent of 6 tons of stover by means of acre. Some test soil was high in organic matter, any was low and highly erod and as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but soil types also received chopp cornstalks for comparison. The fermentation byproduct increased the organic matter contentment and structural stability of the highly erod soil. In a separate, preliminary inquiry results showed no harm to corn or soybeans grown in the port of the stover fermentation byproduct Jane MF Johnson USDA-ARS North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Morris, Minnesota; phone (320) 589-3411 e-mail jjohnson@morris. ars.usda.gov. COPYRIGHT 2005 U rule Printing Office |
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