Crop residue as a potential bioenergy resource

In the United States, current strategies to reduce dependency on imported energy and non-renewable energy include using biomass (generally plant derived material) as an energy source. One of the largest sources of non-food/feed biomass available is crop residues. These result from the harvest and/or processing of field grown crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, grain sorghum and other grain crops. Other sources include fruit and vegetable residues left in the field at harvest, handling and processing wastes, and damaged crops such as moldy hay or fruit and vegetable culls. Currently, these crop residues remain in the field or are returned to the land to provide nutrients and organic matter for soil health and conservation. In some cases, residues are also used as livestock feed. Many of these residues have been considered for conversion to energy by direct combustion (burning) for heat and for electricity, thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis, gasification, etc.) to various fuels, anaerobic digestion to biogas (methane, etc.) and more recently by a new technology referred to as “cellulosic” conversion to ethanol. A survey of biomass residues and other potential bioenergy feedstocks in New Jersey was conducted in 2007 by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) with support from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities1. Table 1 provides an estimate of various harvestable crop residues produced in New Jersey in recent years and their total potential energy value statewide. This fact sheet summarizes current strategies to reduce dependency on imported energy and non-renewable energy through the utilization of crop residues for biomass energy.Fact Sheet FS111