Maize stover is often left on the field or buried. This practice is considered favourable to soil health, as it protects land against erosion and returns organic matter back to the soil (Wilhelm et al., 2004). In the USA, it has been estimated that about 25% of maize stover could be harvested sustainably under current crop rotation and soil tillage practices. Using no-till practices, the proportion could be increased to 50% because of better protection against erosion and enhanced long-term soil quality (Lizotte et al., 2015).
English