Issues and Impacts Surrounding Crop Residue Export: A Canadian Perspective, 1998 North America Nonwood Fiber Symposium Proceedings

The issues surrounding crop residue export include soil conservation, greenhouse gas production, and economics. Balancing environmental sustainability with economic viability can be difficult, especially in the recent era of low agricultural commodity prices. Recent studies of the effect of residue removal, including those at Indian Head, Melfort, and Swift Current, Saskatchewan, have found little or no impact on soil organic matter provided adequate fertilization is practised and tillage is reduced. Assuming 750 kg ha-’ of retained residue is adequate for erosion protection in reduced tillage systems, significant quantities of residues may be available for export from the Black Soil zone. The potential economic returns to producers are such that residue export is an attractive diversification option. Exploitation of the residue resource will depend on the development of appropriate field mechanization, transportation and storage strategies, and efficient conversion processes.