crop residue
The residue retention requirement represents the minimum quantity of crop residue (dry tons per acre per year) that must remain on the field to satisfy soil sustainability constraints, including maintenance of soil organic carbon and limits on wind and water erosion. See Metadata description for residue retention coefficients.pdf for more detailed information.
The dataset is comprised of "MuthFiles_Version2025POLYSYS_ChadHellwin.zip" corresponding to the version used in the POLYSYS model for the Billion-Ton Report; Residue removal coefficients to KDF.7z which will open an Excel file (extension .xlsx) by the same name when unzipped; MuthMapping_MDavis-Oct30-2025.7z which when unzipped using 7zip or similar service will deliver several individual maps of the datasets and a Jupyter Notebook (.ipynb extension) to visualize the data and produce the maps delivered in this zipped file.
Note that residue retention values were derived from process-based modeling (EPIC and RUSLE) as reported in Muth et al.(2012). These values are not percentages or fractions. A value of 10 tons/acre/year should be interpreted as: Residue removal is effectively constrained (no removal feasible) under modeled conditions. Values vary by: Crop type, County, Tillage system, Yield scenario, and Year.
For additional information, please see BT16 resources as well as:
Muth, D. J., et al. (2012). Sustainable agricultural residue removal for bioenergy: A spatially comprehensive US national analysis. Applied Energy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.07.028
Crop residues of the contiguous United States: Balancing feedstock and soil needs with conservation tillage, cover crops, and biochar
Crop residues are among the cellulosic feedstocks expected to provide renewable energy. The
availability of crop species and residue availability varies across the United States. Estimates of
harvestable residues must consider all the residues produced during the entire rotation. Inclusion
of fallow or low residue producing crops requires that less feedstock be harvested. A re-occurring
theme among the regions is that soils need to be safeguarded against erosion and against loss of soil
organic matter (SOM). First, highly erodible lands are categorically excluded from harvesting residues
in all regions. The minimum of residue needed to meet soil needs is highly variable. Where sufficient
residues are produced to meet soil conservation and SOM considerations, harvesting of a portion may
be considered. Soil conservation practices include eliminating or at least reducing tillage to keep the soil
covered, avoiding fallow and adding perennials, applying amendments (manure, biochar) and planting
cover crops in areas with sufficient moisture. Calculating regional or national availability of residue
feedstock is valuable for evaluating the feasibility of bioenergy production; however, on a field basis,
site-specific decision aids will be needed.