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Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Isolation and Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil, Rhizosphere, and Roots in Perennial Grass Experiments
Published on: July 24, 2018
Massard Prairie Restoration and Soil Microbiome Succession
J M Shaver1, E S Bellis2,3, C Iwaki4
1Department of Biology, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, Fort Smith, AR 72904.
Abstract:
We have initially sequenced soil microbial DNA from 4 restored and 3 virgin tallgrass prairie soil samples from Ben Geren Park and Massard Prairie (Fort Smith, AR), respectively. As expected, the soil microbiomes are distinct, with several lineages of nitrogen-fixing bacteria more common in virgin tallgrass prairie. However, we predict that as restoration of tallgrass prairie in Ben Geren Park progresses, the soil microbiome of restored prairie will more closely mirror those of the virgin prairie.
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