Although modes and volume of production of agricultural residues may differ by production areas, rates of production of residues relative to crop yield are reported as 140% for rice, 130% for wheat, 100% for corn, and 40% for rhizomic crops (Hall et al., 1993). In this literature, the rate of production of sugarcane residue derived from stems, leaves and tops produced in the fields during harvesting is reported as 28% relative to the crop yield.

Annual production of agricultural residues estimated by determining production of each crop based on the FAO statistics (2000), and using the above-described rates of production of residues is shown in Fig. 2.11.1. About 3 billion tons of agricultural residues in total are produced around the world, in which rice residue accounts for a largest production of 836 million tons. Residue of rhizomic crops amounts 272 million tons, and wheat and corn residues, which not produced very much in Japan, amounts 754 and 591 million tons, respectively.