Potential Harvestable Corn Cob Biomass in Several Production Systems in the Western Corn Belt.

The proposed use of corn residues for biofuel production has increased interest in how much and what components of residue should/can be removed. One component of corn residue that is already being handled (corn cobs) might be an easily harvestable product that could be used for biofuel production. Our objective was to determine corn cob biomass production in several long-term dryland and irrigated cropping system and tillage studies. Several different hybrids have been utilized in these long-term studies which have been conducted for 10-25 years. Other variables included in these different studies are cropping systems, tillage systems, and N fertilizer levels. Corn cob biomass production as affected by each of the variables in these separate studies will be presented.