Landuse change from native prairie to managed agriculture can have substantial impacts on soil nutrient properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of landuse i. Extractable soil Ca, Mg, and Zn increased at least two times more over time P Averaged across landuse , extractable soil S increased nine times more over time P P Averaged across region, extractable soil Mn increased 2. Grasslands are one of the most abundant terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, and the most abundant ecosystem in North America [1].
Specifically, tallgrass prairies were one of the main North American grassland ecosystems, where tallgrass prairies were dominant in the eastern third of the Great Plains [1]. Naturally dense grasslands are widely biologically diverse in flora and macro- and micro-organisms and provide an array of ecosystem functions, such as animal habitat, resource production, soil and water conservation, recreation, and nutrient cycling [2].
Tallgrass prairies are often dominated by C4 grasses, such as big bluestem Andropogon geradii , switchgrass Panicum virgatum , and indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans [3]. The large and dense accumulation of organic matter associated with the fibrous roots of monocot grass species contributes to soil organic matter SOM and the overall stability of grassland soils, which in turn aid in the reduction of erosion and the regulation of soil water and gas exchange in an environmentally appropriate manner [2].
Grassland root systems affect soil structure through soil penetration as roots grow and proliferate, soil moisture alteration, organic compound exudation, and contribute large quantities of organic matter, carbon C , and nutrients to the soil through root decomposition [4].
Annual senescence of aboveground vegetation in prairies often allows a thick layer of litter to accumulate on the soil surface that, in the absence of natural fire or a prescribed burn, slowly decomposes to provide another substantial source of organic material and nutrients to eventually be assimilated into the SOM pool and the soil in general.
