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A Comparison Of Carbon Storage Potential In Corn- And Prairie-Based Agroecosystems, Ranae Dietzel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increasing carbon (C) in the soil is important both for removing harmful C from the atmosphere and improving the health of the soil. In this dissertation, I set out to examine how planting and harvesting prairies on soils suitable for corn affected soil C storage potential when compared to corn-based systems. I addressed three questions designed to a) improve our understanding of the fundamental differences between how prairies and corn grow throughout the year, b) test how prairies and corn add C to the soil after establishment, and c) use our current understanding of prairie and corn growth and C ...