Project Grant 20216702034246

The South Dakota State University received a $498,675 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) federal grant program. The award will fund research from February 1, 2021 through January 31, 2026 to improve the sustainability of agricultural production through increasing knowledge of the effects of native perennial plant monocultures on soil health. Specifically, the university will investigate if smaller plots of monoculture native perennials similarly benefit soil health as previous mixed-species plantings. Additionally, the research will gain understanding of how the impacts of native plants on soil health change over time and spread within and outside the plots. With the new knowledge generated, the university will evaluate incorporating monoculture plots of native perennial plants as part of precision agriculture practices to improve soil health. The place of performance for the research is Brookings, South Dakota.