Re: [asa] A Sustainable Future and Exponential growth

Dave Siemens wrote

As an additional problem, there is talk of using corn stalks, straw
and other crop residue to produce ethanol. But this reduces the humus in the
soil, with a negative effect on fertility and conservation.

Bill responds:

I read the other day that pointed out that after corn kernels have been fermented to produce ethanol, the residue is used to make an animal feed, so the corn used to make ethanol is not entirely lost to feed. I suspect something similar is true of using crop residue: the byproduct can probably be plowed into the soil to add to the humus. I'm not trying to say that nothing is lost in making ethanol, but the situation may not be as bad as it has been painted.

Dave continues:
I suspect that every
optimistic prediction can be countered by a pessimistic report.

Bill:
Agreed.

 William E. (Bill) Hamilton, Ph.D.
248.652.4148 (home) 248.821.8156 (mobile)
"...If God is for us, who is against us?" Rom 8:31
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Received on Mon May 19 13:02:29 2008