Total stover biomass produced in corn is generally at a 1:1 mass
ratio with grain production [9,10]. However, the amount of corn
stover available to harvest is dependent on many factors including:
total biomass produced; weather and field conditions at harvest;
harvest equipment shortcomings; and, the grower's management
bias for retaining some stover biomass in the field forenvironmental and agronomic reasons [11]. The composition of
corn stover has been shown to be highly variable. Factors such as
harvest year, environment, and variety result in glucose, lignin, or
xylose values ranging up to 10% on an absolute basis [12]. Location
and genotype could also play significant roles in the biomass
composition and ethanol yield of corn stover. A recent publication
from Banerjee et al. [13], reported differences in corn stover glucose
release ranging from 64 to 95%. These significant differences in
fermentable glucose levels would likely result in tremendous
variability in bio-refinery ethanol yield from corn stover feedstock