Decomposed plant matter is the main source of essentials nutrients. The harvesting time of energy crops, quantity (of energy crop rich in nutrients) removed during harvest influences the nutrient cycle of the soil, as nutrients are removed along with the crops during the harvest. This removal of nutrients with harvesting, leads to the taxing of essential nutrients in the soil. With a constant demand of biomass for industrial uses, a regular or rapid rotation harvest involving extensive removal of energy crops will result in reduced soil quality and result in increased use of fertilizers (. nitrogen fixing chemicals) that can be harmful to the soil and to micro organisms. Extensive use of fertilizers may also have a negative impact on local water resources, . run off of chemicals into streams, resulting in eutrophification. .
