Research Projects
2014 Influence of agriculture and remedial land uses practices of efficacy of soil in supporting a diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal community for Central Missouri prairies
Period: March 1, 2014 - Present
Contact: Christine Carson, Candace Galen
Organization: University of Missouri
Funding Source: Praire Fork Trust
Project Link: Christine Carson and Dr. Candace Galen
Objectives: The objective of this study is to quantify and identify AMF taxa available to native plant species in soils undergoing three land-use histories: relic unplowed prairie, reconstructed prairie on agricultural land, and soil under current agricultural crop rotation. In addition, we will be able to examine the effect of time since reconstruction efforts started on the AMF community structure. Land managers began reconstructing plots at PFCA ten years ago and one new plot has been converted from agricultural use to reconstruction prairie for each year since reconstruction began. This creates a unique study area for this research to show how age under reconstruction management can effect AMF associations.