Miscanthus × giganteus increases soil maximum water holding capacity compared to maize

Nelson, Jessica T.; Dor, Maoz; VanLoocke, Andy D.; Studt, Jacob E.; Schrock, Perla K.; McDaniel, Marshall D.

doi:10.1002/agg2.70181

Miscanthus × giganteus increases soil maximum water holding capacity compared to maize

Journal Article · Sat Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70181· OSTI ID:2574239

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Iowa State University, Ames, IA (United States); University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign, IL (United States)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States); Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (United States)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX (United States)

Soil ecosystem services, like the ability to store water, have been depleted after a century of conventional, annual cropping, and perennial crops offer a solution to this and other agricultural environmental issues. We assessed the impact of Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus), a perennial biomass crop, on soil water holding capacity and structure compared to continuous maize (Zea mays L.) at two sites in Iowa. After three growing seasons, we measured the following: (1) maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) with and without soil structure, and (2) total porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) via micro-computed tomography (microCT). Miscanthus increased MWHC by 14.7% across both sites relative to maize (p = 0.002), and we attributed this to structural changes due to the lack of a crop effect when measured on structureless soils. No significant changes were detected in soil organic matter, texture, total porosity, or PSD that could explain the increase in MWHC under miscanthus. Our findings suggest that the increases in MWHC are primarily due to structural changes rather than increases in soil organic matter or porosity (at least porosity detectable by microCT). This study highlights miscanthus' potential to enhance soil water storage and underscores the need for further investigation to clarify the mechanisms through which this biomass crop influences soil structural properties.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Vaadia-BARD Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018420

OSTI ID:: 2574239

Journal Information:: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, Journal Name: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 8; ISSN 2639-6696

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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