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Nutrient Removal As A Function Of Corn Stover Cutting Height And Cob Harvest, Jane M. F. Johnson, Wally W. Wilhelm, Douglas L. Karlen, David W. Archer, Brian J. Wienhold, David T. Lightle, David Laird, John Baker, Tyson E. Ochsner, Jeff M. Novak, Ardell D. Halvorson, Francisco Arriaga, Nancy Barbour

Douglas L Karlen

One-pass harvest equipment has been developed to collect corn (Zea mays L.) grain, stover, and cobs that can be used as bioenergy feedstock. Nutrients removed in these feedstocks have soil fertility implication and affect feedstock quality. The study objectives were to quantify nutrient concentrations and potential removal as a function of cutting height, plant organ, and physiological stage. Plant samples were collected in 10-cm increments at seven diverse geographic locations at two maturities and analyzed for multiple elements. At grain harvest, nutrient concentration averaged 5.5 gN kg⁻¹, 0.5 gP kg⁻¹, and 6.2 gK kg^{−1 …}