Prairie Plant Root Depths

Prairie Plant Root Depths. . , An Oasis of Art, Architecture, and Landscape Design since 1860. , Native tallgrass prairie covered much of the area in and around Chicago before the city was founded. This small piece of prairie has been planted to recall the native landscape which was the inspiration for our Cemetery's designed landscape. This prairie, like the other landscape elements of the Cemetery, is intended and designed to venerate and enhance the resting place of those buried in this beautiful natural landscape. , , The Prairie Soil Food Web , Native prairie plants have extensive root systems. In most cases their root systems are much larger than the foliage visible above ground. In fact, up to 75% of a prairie plant's biomass is beneath the ground. Unlike turf grass or wheat, whose roots may reach a depth of six to twelve inches, prairie plant roots can grow up to fifteen feet deep! , , in the soil food web, plants are the primary producers. They harness the sun's energy to produce roots and leaves, which most other organisms then consume. With such an extensive root system, prairie soils are alive and active, boasting an incredible diversity of organisms. They range in size from one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to more complex nematodes and micro-arthropods, to visible invertebrates and small vertebrates. As plants and soil organisms work to survive, they depend on interactions with each other. By-products from growing roots and plant residue feed soil organisms. In turn, soil organisms support plant health as they decompose organic matter, cycle nutrients, enhance soil structure, and control the populations of detrimental soil organisms. , , The deep roots of prairie plants and the extensive life they support below ground results in multiple benefits: , . Drought Resistance , . Fire Tolerance , . Increased Soil Productivity , . Reduced Flooding , . Increased Water Absorption , . Improved Water Quality , . Aeration of Soils , . Erosion Prevention ,