US Corn Belt Research Articles

Evapotranspiration of annual and perennial biofuel crops in a variable climate

AbstractEddy covariance measurements were made in seven fields in the Midwest USA over 4 years (including the 2012 drought year) to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) of newly established rain‐fed cellulosic and grain biofuel crops. Four of the converted fields had been managed as grasslands under the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 22 years, and three had been in conventional agriculture (AGR) soybean/corn rotation prior to conversion. In 2009, all sites were planted to no‐till soybean except one CRP grassland that was left unchanged as a reference site; in 2010, three of the former CRP sites and the three former AGR sites were planted to annual (corn) and perennial (switchgrass and mixed‐prairie) grasslands. The annual ET over the 4 years ranged from 45% to 77% (mean = 60%) of the annual precipitation (848–1063 mm; November–October), with the unconverted CRP grassland having the highest ET (622–706 mm). In the fields converted to annual and perennial crops, the annual ET ranged between 480 and 639 mm despite the large variations in growing‐season precipitation and in soil water contents, which had strong effects on regional crop yields. Results suggest that in this humid temperate climate, which represents the US Corn Belt, water use by annual and perennial crops is not greatly different across years with highly variable precipitation and soil water availability. Therefore, large‐scale conversion of row crops to perennial biofuel cropping systems may not strongly alter terrestrial water balances.

Drivers of spatial and temporal variation in soybean yield and irrigation requirements in the western US Corn Belt

Both rainfed and irrigated soybean production are important in Nebraska (western US Corn Belt), accounting for a respective 48 and 52% of the state's soybean production of 7Mt on a respective 55 and 45% share of the state soybean area of 1.9Mha. To date, no assessment of factors that may account for regional and inter-annual variation in yield and irrigation amount has been performed. To accomplish that objective, we evaluated a database containing on-farm field yields and total irrigation amount used in those fields. These data have been collected annually from ca. 1000 soybean fields in six regions of Nebraska during the past eight years. Distributions of farm yield and irrigation amount were analyzed and the impact of selected weather variables and key management factors on these two variables was assessed. For irrigated soybean, attainable yields were estimated from the 95th percentile of the yield distribution, and yield gaps were then calculated as the difference between the attainable yield and average farm yield. The interquartile range for yield and irrigation amount was used as a measure of the management gap between skillfully and sub-optimally managed fields. Distribution of irrigated yield and irrigation amount were skewed, indicating that many producers achieved yields relatively close to the attainable yield, but also that irrigation in excess of the amount needed may have occurred in an important fraction of the total fields. Variation in rainfed yield was strongly related to July–August total rainfall and seasonal water deficit, but, in contrast, no single meteorological factor could consistently explain variation in irrigated yield. In fact, sowing date explained most of the observed inter-annual variation in irrigated yield in all regions. Amount of irrigation applied in each year depended on both rainfall and reference evapotranspiration. Efficiency in use of irrigation water versus rainfall to produce seed yield was remarkably similar. Across regions, attainable yield of irrigated soybean in NE averaged 4.7Mgha−1, with the yield gap averaging about 16% of the attainable yield. Variation in yield and irrigation amount among fields was more important than variation among years and even regions. Further research is needed to identify the causes for this observed field-to-field variation in yield and irrigation amount within the same year and region.

Aerially seeding cover crops in the northern US Corn Belt: Limitations, future research needs, and alternative practices

I ncorporating cover crops into the two-year corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean ( Glycine max L.) rotation can reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure (Snapp et al. 2005), and reduce nitrate (NO3) leaching (Strock et al. 2004; Fisher et al. 2011). However, it is often difficult to establish winter cover crops in the cooler climate and shorter growing season of the northern Corn Belt. Miguez and Bollero (2005) reported that grass cover crops in the north central United States would only provide marginal benefits due to low biomass production. Through growth simulations, Baker and Griffis (2009) found that the main limitations are degree days and photosynthetically active radiation. Strock et al. (2004) suggested that based on average weather patterns in southwestern Minnesota, winter rye ( Secale cereal L.) would only be a successful cover crop in one out of four years. In these studies, however, temperatures were already cool when the cover crop was planted following harvest of the preceding crop. As another option, Frye et al. (1988) suggested that broadcasting seed into a standing crop can result in earlier crop growth than drilling the seed after harvest. Through growth simulations based on field experiments, Feyereisen et al. (2006) recommended…

Biofuels from crop residue can reduce soil carbon and increase CO2 emissions

Life-cycle assessment of biofuel carbon emissions does not usually take into account the potential for soil carbon loss resulting from crop residue removal. Now estimates of CO2 emissions due to corn residue removal across the US Corn Belt indicate that the emissions from soil carbon loss could push total emissions above the US legislative mandate.

Breeding drought-tolerant maize hybrids for the US corn-belt: discovery to product

Germplasm, genetics, phenotyping, and selection, combined with a clear definition of product targets, are the foundation of successful hybrid maize breeding. Breeding maize hybrids with superior yield for the drought-prone regions of the US corn-belt involves integration of multiple drought-specific technologies together with all of the other technology components that comprise a successful maize hybrid breeding programme. Managed-environment technologies are used to enable scaling of precision phenotyping in appropriate drought environmental conditions to breeding programme level. Genomics and other molecular technologies are used to study trait genetic architecture. Genetic prediction methodology was used to breed for improved yield performance for drought-prone environments. This was enabled by combining precision phenotyping for drought performance with genetic understanding of the traits contributing to successful hybrids in the target drought-prone environments and the availability of molecular markers distributed across the maize genome. Advances in crop growth modelling methodology are being used to evaluate the integrated effects of multiple traits for their combined effects and evaluate drought hybrid product concepts and guide their development and evaluation. Results to date, lessons learned, and future opportunities for further improving the drought tolerance of maize for the US corn-belt are discussed.

Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Response to Corn Stover Removal and Tillage Management Across the US Corn Belt

In-field measurements of direct soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provide critical data for quantifying the net energy efficiency and economic feasibility of crop residue-based bioenergy production systems. A major challenge to such assessments has been the paucity of field studies addressing the effects of crop residue removal and associated best practices for soil management (i.e., conservation tillage) on soil emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). This regional survey summarizes soil GHG emissions from nine maize production systems evaluating different levels of corn stover removal under conventional or conservation tillage management across the US Corn Belt. Cumulative growing season soil emissions of CO2, N2O, and/or CH4 were measured for 2–5 years (2008–2012) at these various sites using a standardized static vented chamber technique as part of the USDA-ARS’s Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices (REAP) regional partnership. Cumulative soil GHG emissions during the growing season varied widely across sites, by management, and by year. Overall, corn stover removal decreased soil total CO2 and N2O emissions by -4 and -7 %, respectively, relative to no removal. No management treatments affected soil CH4 fluxes. When aggregated to total GHG emissions (Mg CO2 eq ha−1) across all sites and years, corn stover removal decreased growing season soil emissions by −5 ± 1 % (mean ± se) and ranged from -36 % to 54 % (n = 50). Lower GHG emissions in stover removal treatments were attributed to decreased C and N inputs into soils, as well as possible microclimatic differences associated with changes in soil cover. High levels of spatial and temporal variabilities in direct GHG emissions highlighted the importance of site-specific management and environmental conditions on the dynamics of GHG emissions from agricultural soils.

Evaluating agricultural management practices to improve the environmental footprint of corn-derived ethanol

This study examines three agriculture management practices with the aim of improving the environmental performance of corn-derived products such as bioethanol. Corn production is energy intensive and contributes to water quality degradation and global warming, thus affecting the environmental impact of corn-derived ethanol. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to quantify and compare the environmental impacts of three management strategies: tillage, fertilizer choices and the use of buffer strips to sequester nutrients. Detailed energy, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus inventories are compiled to represent corn production scenarios within the US Corn Belt. The LCA was developed using GREET 1.8 (Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) and emission factors with statistical analyses to estimate energy consumption, associated air emissions, and aqueous nutrient runoff potentials. Results show that using manure fertilizers as opposed to synthetic fertilizers requires less energy, however the use of manure generates more CH4, N2O, CO2 and results in more variable concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from farmlands. No tillage emits less greenhouse gas emissions, sequesters more soil organic carbon and slightly reduces nutrient runoff compared with conventional tillage practices. Building buffer strips of certain widths is an efficient way to reduce N and P discharge to surrounding waters with minimal effect on the energy or global warming profile. Based on the results of the LCA studies, replacing conventional tillage with no till, and installing buffer strips can improve environmental performances of corn derived ethanol.

Crop advisors as climate information brokers: Building the capacity of US farmers to adapt to climate change

This paper examines the role of crop advisors as brokers of climate information to support US corn farmers to adapt to climatic change. It uses quantitative data collected from a broad survey of crop advisors in the US Corn Belt to examine the factors that shape advisors’ use of (and willingness to provide) climate information to their clients. Building upon a general model of climate information usability we argue that advisors’ willingness to provide climate advice to farmers is influenced by three main factors: their information seeking habits and behavior, their experience with innovation in the past, and how climate information interplays with other kinds of information that they provide—especially agronomic advice. We find that advisors’ willingness to provide climate related information depends both on factors at the individual and organizational level and on the type of advice they provide. First, at the individual and organizational levels, advisors who work in supportive organizations and who collaborate with other advisors are more likely to provide climate information. Second, advisors are more likely to provide climate information if it does not interfere with their main profit making business (e.g. provision of agronomic advice). Third, there is a significant positive relationship between trust in a greater number or sources of information and use of climate information. Fourth, the way advisors perceive short- and long-term risk also influences their willingness to provide climate information; the more concerned they are about long-term climate-related risks to farming, the more likely they are to provide (or want to provide) advice based on climate information. Differently from other empirical work in the literature, our analytical model suggests that neither negative experiences with climate information in the past nor the high level of uncertainty characteristic of climate information appear to influence advisors willingness to provide climate information in the future.

Understanding Corn Belt farmer perspectives on climate change to inform engagement strategies for adaptation and mitigation

Development of extension and outreach that effectively engage farmers in adaptation and/or mitigation activities can be informed by an improved understand- ing of farmers' perspectives on and related impacts. This research employed latent class analysis (LCA) to analyze data from a survey of 4,778 farmers from 11 US Corn Belt states. The research focused on two related research questions: (1) to what degree do farmers differ on key measures of beliefs about change, experience with extreme weather, perceived risks to agriculture, efficacy, and level of support for public and pri- vate adaptive and mitigative action; and (2) are there potential areas of common ground among farmers? Results indicate that farmers have highly heterogeneous perspectives, and six distinct classes of farmers are identified. We label these as the following: the concerned (14%), the uneasy (25%), the uncertain (25%), the unconcerned (13%), the confident (18%), and the detached (5%). These groups of farmers differ primarily in terms of beliefs about change, the degree to which they had experienced extreme weather, and risk per- ceptions. Despite substantial differences on these variables, areas of similarity were discerned on variables measuring farmers' (1) confidence that they will be able to deal with increases in and (2) support for public and private efforts to help farmers adapt to increased variability. These results can inform segmented approaches to outreach that target subpopulations of farmers as well as broader engagement strategies that would reach wider populations. Further, findings suggest that strategies with specific reference to might be most effective in engaging the subpopulations of farmers who believe that is occurring and a threat, but that use of less charged terms such as would likely be more effective with a broader range of farmers. Outreach efforts that (1) appeal to farmers' problem solving capacity and (2) employ terms such as weather variability instead of more charged terms such as climate change are more likely to be effective with a wider farmer audience.

Landscape Management for Sustainable Supplies of Bioenergy Feedstock and Enhanced Soil Quality

Agriculture can simultaneously address global food, feed, fiber, and energy challenges provided our soil, water, and air resources are not compromised in doing so. Our objective is to present a landscape management concept as an approach for integrating multiple bioenergy feedstock sources into current crop production systems. This is done to show how multiple, increasing global challenges can be met in a sustainable manner. We discuss how collaborative research among USDAAgricultural Research Service (ARS), US Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL), several university extension and research partners, and industry representatives [known as the Renewable Energy Assessment Project (REAP) team] has led to the development of computer-based decision aids for guiding sustainable bioenergy feedstock production. The decision aids, known initially as the «Corn Stover Tool» and more recently as the «Landscape Environmental Assessment Framework» (LEAF) are tools designed to recognize the importance of nature’s diversity and can therefore be used to guide sustainable feedstock production without having negative impacts on critical ecosystem services. Using a 57 ha farm site in central Iowa, USA, we show how producer decisions regarding corn (Zea mays L.) stover harvest within the US Corn Belt can be made in a more sustainable manner. This example also supports REAP team conclusions that stover should not be harvested if average grain yields are less than 11 Mg ha-1 unless more balanced landscape management practices are implemented. The tools also illustrate the importance of sub-field management and site-specific stover harvest strategies.

Estimating the frequency of Cry1F resistance in field populations of the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Transgenic corn hybrids that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have suppressed European corn borer populations and reduced the pest status of this insect throughout much of the US corn belt. A major assumption of the high-dose/refuge strategy proposed for insect resistance management and Bt corn is that the frequency of resistance alleles is low so that resistant pests surviving exposure to Bt corn will be rare. The frequency of resistance to the Cry1F Bt toxin was estimated using two different screening tools and compared with annual susceptibility monitoring based on diagnostic bioassays and LC50 and EC50 determinations. An F1 screening approach where field-collected individuals were mated to a resistant laboratory strain and progeny were assayed to determine genotype revealed that resistance alleles could be recovered even during the first year of commercially available Cry1F corn (2003). Estimates of frequency from 2003-2005 and 2006-2008 indicated that, although allele frequency was higher than theoretical assumptions (0.0286 and 0.0253 respectively), there was no indication that the frequency was increasing. Similar estimates in 2008 and 2009 using an F2 screening approach confirmed the presence of non-rare resistance alleles (frequency ≈ 0.0093 and 0.0142 for 2008 and 2009, respectively). The results of both screening methods were in general agreement with the observed mortality in diagnostic bioassays and LC50 and EC50 determinations. These results are consistent with previous modeling results, suggesting that the high-dose/refuge strategy that is in place for Bt corn may be effective in delaying resistance evolution even when a relatively high frequency of resistance alleles exists.

Farm-scale costs and returns for second generation bioenergy cropping systems in the US Corn Belt

While grain crops are meeting much of the initial need for biofuels in the US, cellulosic or second generation (2G) materials are mandated to provide a growing portion of biofuel feedstocks. We sought to inform development of a 2G crop portfolio by assessing the profitability of novel cropping systems that potentially mitigate the negative effects of grain-based biofuel crops on food supply and environmental quality. We analyzed farm-gate costs and returns of five systems from an ongoing experiment in central Iowa, USA. The continuous corn cropping system was most profitable under current market conditions, followed by a corn–soybean rotation that incorporated triticale as a 2G cover crop every third year, and a corn–switchgrass system. A novel triticale–hybrid aspen intercropping system had the highest yields over the long term, but could only surpass the profitability of the continuous corn system when biomass prices exceeded foreseeable market values. A triticale/sorghum double cropping system was deemed unviable. We perceive three ways 2G crops could become more cost competitive with grain crops: by (1) boosting yields through substantially greater investment in research and development, (2) increasing demand through substantially greater and sustained investment in new markets, and (3) developing new schemes to compensate farmers for environmental benefits associated with 2G crops.

What we learned from the Dust Bowl: lessons in science, policy, and adaptation.

This article provides a review and synthesis of scholarly knowledge of Depression-era droughts on the North American Great Plains, a time and place known colloquially as the Dust Bowl era or the Dirty Thirties. Recent events, including the 2008 financial crisis, severe droughts in the US corn belt, and the release of a popular documentary film, have spawned a resurgence in public interest in the Dust Bowl. Events of the Dust Bowl era have also proven in recent years to be of considerable interest to scholars researching phenomena related to global environmental change, including atmospheric circulation, drought modeling, land management, institutional behavior, adaptation processes, and human migration. In this review, we draw out common themes in terms of not only what natural and social scientists have learned about the Dust Bowl era itself, but also how insights gained from the study of that period are helping to enhance our understanding of climate–human relations more generally.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11111-013-0190-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Plot-scale modeling of soil water dynamics and impacts of drought conditions beneath rainfed maize in Eastern Nebraska

Intermittent drought periods pose major challenges to the management of rainfed agricultural systems because their productivity is sensitive to water stress during crop development. The objective of this study was to assess soil water dynamics and crop stress patterns during the drought year of 2012, which was among the most severe on record in the US Corn Belt. The study utilized a continuous matric potential profile monitoring record from June 2008–December 2012 beneath a rainfed corn plot in Eastern Nebraska to provide a direct comparison of the 2012 growing season with moderate to relatively wet periods within 2008–2011. The analysis was based on a transient unsaturated zone model that was calibrated with laboratory-measured water retention functions and matric potential measurements from heat dissipation sensors. In each year of the model simulation, soil water storage volumes steadily decreased during the growing season and increased episodically following precipitation events outside of the growing season. Precipitation during the 2012 growing season was <50% of the mean for growing seasons 2009–2012 consequently, soil water storage loss during 2012 was ∼14% of initial storage in comparison to 8–9% in 2009–2011. Model results suggest that the 2012 soil water deficit was partially buffered by upward flux of deep soil moisture, with approximately 17% of root water uptake in 2012 deriving from moisture redistributed from below the root zone. Nevertheless, root zone matric potentials exceeded the crop wilting point (ψ=−8000cm) in 2012 for the first time within the monitoring record. These results highlight the need for heightened attention to drought resilience of rainfed cropping systems given future climate predictions that involve increase rainfall intermittency.

Field-Level Financial Assessment of Contour Prairie Strips for Enhancement of Environmental Quality

The impacts of strategically located contour prairie strips on sediment and nutrient runoff export from watersheds maintained under an annual row crop production system have been studied at a long-term research site in central Iowa. Data from 2007 to 2011 indicate that the contour prairie strips utilized within row crop-dominated landscapes have greater than proportionate and positive effects on the functioning of biophysical systems. Crop producers and land management agencies require comprehensive information about the Best Management Practices with regard to performance efficacy, operational/management parameters, and the full range of financial parameters. Here, a farm-level financial model assesses the establishment, management, and opportunity costs of contour prairie strips within cropped fields. Annualized, depending on variable opportunity costs the 15-year present value cost of utilizing contour prairie strips ranges from $590 to $865ha(-1)year(-1) ($240-$350ac(-1)year(-1)). Expressed in the context of "treatment area" (e.g., in this study 1ha of prairie treats 10ha of crops), the costs of contour prairie strips can also be viewed as $59 to about $87 per treated hectare ($24-$35ac(-1)). If prairie strips were under a 15-year CRP contract, total per acre cost to farmers would be reduced by over 85%. Based on sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen export data from the related field studies and across low, medium, and high land rent scenarios, a megagram (Mg) of soil retained within the watershed costs between $7.79 and $11.46mg(-1), phosphorus retained costs between $6.97 and $10.25kg(-1), and nitrogen retained costs between $1.59 and $2.34kg(-1). Based on overall project results, contour prairie strips may well become one of the key conservation practices used to sustain US Corn Belt agriculture in the decades to come.

Molecular changes during intra and inter recurrent selection of two populations of maize: one adapted and one non adapted to the selection environment

In several reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) programs heterosis and favorable characteristics are achieved by means of one adapted and one non adapted population. We evaluated with molecular markers, an intrapopulation selection followed by RRS of one Spanish population adapted to Mediterranean Spain and one US Corn Belt population non adapted to Spanish conditions. Results from other authors suggest that during recurrent selection, non adapted populations have higher loss of variability, genetic differentiation and lower effective population size than expected according to the number of families selected each generation. This could be due to natural selection which is not under the breeder’s control and is expected to mainly act on non adapted populations. The number of markers with convergent allelic change was similar to the number of markers with divergent allelic change which explains the lack of genetic differentiation and the failure to increase heterosis during RRS because the effects of both types of changes compensate. It seems that the predominant mode of gene action depends on the particular germplasm involved in the RRS. By evaluating the allelic changes during selection, we identified four regions (2.04, 4.06, 6.03, 9.02) that significantly changed during selection in our selection experiment and that have been associated to selection in other selection experiments and to multiple traits in QTL experiments.

Effect of corn stover compositional variability on minimum ethanol selling price (MESP)

A techno-economic sensitivity analysis was performed using a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2011 biochemical conversion design model varying feedstock compositions. A total of 496 feedstock near infrared (NIR) compositions from 47 locations in eight US Corn Belt states were used as the inputs to calculate minimum ethanol selling price (MESP), ethanol yield (gallons per dry ton biomass feedstock), ethanol annual production, as well as total installed project cost for each composition. From this study, the calculated MESP is $2.20 ± 0.21 (average ± 3 SD) per gallon ethanol.

N distribution in maize plant as a marker for grain yield and limits on its remobilization after flowering

AbstractTo determine the relationship between specific leaf N (SLN) and grain yield or its components in commercial maize hybrids in the US Corn Belt, three studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011. Leaf area index at flowering ranged from 3 under low to 5.6 at normal soil N. At flowering, 70% of the vegetative N was sequestered in the leaves, 22% in stalk and 8% in leaf sheaths, whereas the respective numbers for dry mass were 34, 50 and 16%. Highest grain yield was obtained at an SLN of 1.5. N stress affected both kernel number and kernel mass per plant. Regardless of the initial amount of leaf N at flowering, ~65% was remobilized by maturity. Under normal soil N, leaf N at flowering contributed at most 40% to the grain N. An increase in N storage capacity of the leaves would improve stability of hybrid grain yield as well as reduce loss of N from the soil by leaching and run‐off.

Genetic and Morphometric Analysis of Cob Architecture and Biomass-Related Traits in the Intermated B73 × Mo17 Recombinant Inbred Lines of Maize

Expected future cellulosic ethanol production increases the demand for biomass in the US Corn Belt. With low nutritious value, low nitrogen content, and compact biomass, maize cobs can provide a significant amount of cellulosic materials. The value of maize cobs depends on cob architecture, chemical composition, and their relation to grain yield as primary trait. Eight traits including cob volume, fractional diameters, length, weight, tissue density, and grain yield have been analyzed in this quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping experiment to evaluate their inheritance and inter-relations. One hundred eighty-four recombinant inbred lines of the intermated B73 × Mo17 (IBM) Syn 4 population were evaluated from an experiment carried out at three locations and analyzed using genotypic information of 1,339 public SNP markers. QTL detection was performed using (1) comparison-wise thresholds with reselection of cofactors (α = 0.001) and (2) empirical logarithm of odds score thresholds (P = 0.05). Several QTL with small genetic effects (R2 = 2.9–13.4 %) were found, suggesting a complex quantitative inheritance of all traits. Increased cob tissue density was found to add value to the residual without a commensurate negative impact on grain yield and therefore enables for simultaneous selection for cob biomass and grain yield.

Using biodiversity to link agricultural productivity with environmental quality: Results from three field experiments in Iowa

AbstractAgriculture in the US Corn Belt is under increasing pressure to produce greater quantities of food, feed and fuel, while better protecting environmental quality. Key environmental problems in this region include water contamination by nutrients and herbicides emitted from cropland, a lack of non-agricultural habitat to support diverse communities of native plants and animals, and a high level of dependence on petrochemical energy in the dominant cropping systems. In addition, projected changes in climate for this region, which include increases in the proportion of precipitation coming from extreme events could make soil and water conservation in existing cropping systems more difficult. To address these challenges we have conducted three cropping systems projects in central Iowa: the Marsden Farm Cropping Systems experiment, the Science-based Trials of Row-crops Integrated with Prairies (STRIPs) experiment, and the Comparison of Biofuel Systems (COBS) experiment. Results from these experiments indicate that (1) diversification of the dominant corn–soybean rotation with small grains and forage legumes can permit substantial reductions in agrichemical and fossil hydrocarbon use without compromising yields or profitability; (2) conversion of small amounts of cropland to prairie buffer strips can provide disproportionately large improvements in soil and water conservation, nutrient retention, and densities of native plants and birds; and (3) native perennial species can generate large amounts of biofuel feedstocks and offer environmental benefits relative to corn- and soybean-based systems, including greater carbon inputs to soil and large reductions in nitrogen emissions to drainage water. Increasing biodiversity through the strategic integration of perennial plant species can be a viable strategy for reducing reliance on purchased inputs and for increasing agroecosystem health and resilience in the US Corn Belt.