Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Science

Perennial bioenergy grasses begin rebuilding Midwest soil carbon lost to maize

Nearly two centuries of maize-based agriculture in the U.S. Midwest has halved soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks compared with tallgrass prairies native to the region. Replacing annual maize/soy cropping with perennial bioenergy grasses may partially reverse these resulting SOC deficits.

Perennial bioenergy grasses begin rebuilding Midwest soil carbon lost to maize
Image: Phys.org
Nearly two centuries of maize-based agriculture in the U.S. Midwest has halved soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks compared with tallgrass prairies native to the region. Replacing annual maize/soy cropping with perennial bioenergy grasses may partially reverse these resulting SOC deficits.

Originally published at Phys.org

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