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The Grass is Greener

After two years of experimentation with “between-row” cover grasses, researchers at Iowa State University have concluded that environmentally sound agricultural practices will not slow corn production. The team successfully extracted 95 percent of field stover, a crop residue that can be used to generate biofuels, while increasing the total corn yield by more than 1,000 kilograms of corn grain per hectare. Removal of stover is generally associated with water runoff and depletion of soil, which both slow production. But perennial sod, which was planted and kept on the field year round, trapped the organic matter that is usually lost during and after the removal process. With only a minor change to the current cropping system, farmers can increase efficiency and contribute to the future of biofuels.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100615151124.htm


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