Kentucky bluegrass, white clover are best cover crops for cellulosic ethanol operations using corn stover, study finds

In Iowa, a researcher with the National Soil Tilth Laboratory is reporting results from a study of cover crops, as part of a three-component study on optimizing corn cultivation for biofuels. The study found that white clover or Kentucky bluegrass have the best characteristics, while no-till and strip-till cultivation reduces the levels of fossil fuel inputs for planting and preparing crops. The study reports on the potential of perennial grasses to mitigate soil erosion and enhance soil health – including cases where corn and stover have been harvested for biofuels production.

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