USGS warms that corn ethanol is stressing groundwater resources in Mississippi River Valley

In Mississippi, the US Geological Survey is warning that corn production for ethanol is having adverse effects on local water sources. Corn requires 80% more water than is needed to produce cotton in the Mississippi Delta requiring increased withdrawals of groundwater from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial (MRVA) aquifer for irrigation. This is contributing to already declining water levels in the aquifer. In addition, increased use of nitrogen fertilizer for corn in comparison to cotton could contribute to low dissolved oxygen conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.

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