Soil Condition Variability: Carbon Analysis of Prairie, Crop, and Forest Soil in Northeast Iowa

Iowa’s soil supports crop growth, stores carbon, filters water impurities, provides a habitat for organisms, and stores and provides water and nutrients for plants. The availability of elements within soil is an indicator of the viability of soil. Total % carbon is the percent composition of carbon in the sample. Total organic carbon enters the soil through the decomposition of plants, microorganisms, and animals. C:H ratios can reveal the potential for microbial activity and soil fertility. Gossman property allows for the analysis of a variety of different soil conditions in one location