Prairies. Some may see them and see some grass, not much different than the millions of acres of row crops we see on our road trips through the Midwest. But prairies are incredible and extremely beneficial ecosystems to all animals and insects (this includes humans!). 

Tallgrass prairies in particular are what dominate a majority of southern and some of western Minnesota. The tallgrass prairie ecosystem is one of the world's most degraded ecosystems with less than 1% of remnants still intact, due to its well watered and fertile soil. Restorations of these ecosystems are sought after for many reasons: 1) they help address many of the environmental concerns that we face today, including soil erosion, water quality, carbon sequestration and flood mitigation. 2) Land managers understand that tallgrass prairies are extremely biodiverse (there are many unique species of plants, animals, and insects), only topped by the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest.

Tallgrass and other prairie ecosystems are able to address water and soil issues very well. They have very deep roots, sometimes up to 10’ deep that help maintain soil structure and health, increase water infiltration, and hold soil in place. Iowa State University has been piloting a program in which they use prairie buffer strips in row crop fields and the numbers they found are quite impressive. They found after 10 years of trials, research, and development that prairie strips strategically placed in a field can reduce sediment runoff from a field up to 95% and reduce phosphorus and nitrogen lost from runoff at 90% and 85% respectively. 

Researchers have found that tallgrass prairies and prairies in general act as carbon sinks (they suck up carbon from the air). This is partially due to their massive root systems and the fact that most prairie plants are perennial, whereas most row crops are annual and need to be planted mechanically year after year. That combined with tillage causes massive amounts of gaseous carbon to be released into the air every year from the soil. 

Lets not forget the fact that these prairie strips create a massive uptick in plant diversity, providing habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects alike. The prairie once supported 30-60 million bison along with other grazers, predators like bears and wolves, and even down to gophers and turtles. Through evolution, there are many pollinators that are plant specific and if that plant is not around, that insect’s population will plummet and eventually become extinct. This affects the food chain and would decrease the diversity of birds, mammals, etc. present in our ecosystems and prairies.

So next time you go out and see a prairie, remember that everything you are looking at is an amazing, complicated natural system at work helping you and I, along with our animal friends. And that, my friends, is why here at NRP we strive to restore all of Minnesota’s landscapes, not just the shaded ones.

References:

(2021). A Complex Prairie System. National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/tapr/learn/nature/a-complex-prairie-ecosystem.htm 

(2021). Tallgrass Prairie Center: University of Northern Iowa. https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/

(2021). What Are Prairie Strips?. Iowa State University. https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPS/content/what-are-prairie-strips

West, B. & Haake, D. (2014). Estimation of Carbon Sequestration in a Restored Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in Eastern Missouri. Litszinger Road Ecology Center. 

Al-Kaisi, M. Impact of Tillage and Crop Rotation Systems on Soil Carbon Sequestration. Iowa State University.