Why would you bail corn stalks?

Why would you bail corn stalks?

Corn stalk bales can provide much needed feed over the winter. To use them most effectively, you’ll want to find out what they have to offer nutritionally. Sample and test your bales as soon as possible so when snow gets deep or other feeds run out you will already know how to best feed your corn stalk bales.

How do you manage corn residue?

Corn Residue Management

1. Make sure your combine feeds minimal fodder through the combine.
2. Leave the stalk crushed but attached to the roots.
3. Evenly distribute residue.
4. Leave stalks standing.
5. Drill into standing stalks.
6. Drill on an angle to previous corn rows.
7. Set the drill right to plant seed into the soil.

What nutrients are in corn stalks?

Stalks this fall will contain between $3-5 worth of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur per ton. “Stalks also provide organic matter and help reduce erosion.

Does harvesting remove nutrients?

When grain is harvested, nutrients are removed from the field. If these nutrients are not replaced with fertilizers or manures, then plant-available soil nutrient levels will draw down over time and the fertility of a soil will be compromised.

What do farmers do with corn stalk bales?

Cornstalks can be used to fill a forage gap or for bedding needs on a cow/calf operation. For cattle producers, crop residues can be a viable and inexpensive grazing option, according to University of Illinois Extension beef cattle specialist Travis Meteer.

How wet can you bale corn stalks?

Additionally, heavy, wet stalks can cause more issues, such as plugging and bale shape problems, when baling them up. It’s important to make sure you’re baling at the proper moisture level – ideally, around 15% moisture just like dry hay.

How do you get rid of corn stalks in field?

A popular compromise to leaving the whole stalk is to chop it down to a height of 12 to 18 inches during harvest. This allows the shortened stalks to collect snowfall and cuts down on soil erosion, as well as keeps the corn residue in place, allowing for quicker breakdown of the residue into the soil.

What are crop remains called?

Field residues are materials left in an agricultural field or orchard after the crop has been harvested. These residues include stalks and stubble (stems), leaves, and seed pods. The residue can be ploughed directly into the ground, or burned first. These residues include husks, seeds, bagasse, molasses and roots.

What is the fertilizer value of corn stalks?

Each ton of corn stalks removed has a fertilizer value of approximately 4.6 pounds of P205 and 32 pounds of K20 pounds. Assuming a stover yield of 4 tons/acre and a removal rate of the stover at 65% you would remove 5,200 pounds of corn stalks per acre or 2.6 tons.

What is nutrient crop removal?

What is “Crop Nutrient Removal”? Crop nutrient removal is defined as the total amount of nutrients removed from the field in the harvested portion of the crop (e.g., grain, silage, hay).

How much potash does corn remove?

For every bushel of corn harvested, we can expect 0.37 lb/A P2O5 and 0.24 lb/A K2O removal. For soybeans those numbers are . 75 lb/A/bu P2O5 and 1.17 lb/A/bu K2O.

Why Bale corn stalk residue?

Figure 1. Corn stalk residue with downed ears baled and ready to use. (Photo by Jenny Rees) protector of the soil surface to prevent wind/water erosion and evaporative losses, food for microbes resulting in nutrient source for future crops, and a challenge to achieving uniform emergence and plant stands, particularly in no-till continuous corn.

Does harvesting corn remove nutrients from the plant?

Harvesting corn plant components in addition to grain does result in greater removal of plant nutrients. Effects of increased P and K removal on nutrient application needs are immediate and should to be accounted for in fertilization plans.

What is the difference between silage and baling corn?

Silage harvest results in almost complete removal of aboveground plant biomass. Baling corn stover typically does not remove as much plant biomass and amounts removed vary greatly across fields, years, and desired removal level. Also, there may be interest in specific plant component removal, such as targeting corn cobs.

How much nitrogen is in corn residue?

Per ton of dry harvested corn or sorghum residue, average nutrient concentrations include 17 lbs of nitrogen, 4 lbs of P 2 O 5, 34 lbs of K 2 O, and 3 lbs of sulfur.