Quantification of Dynamic Soil Properties in Agricultural Fields, Restored Prairie, and Never Cultivated Oak Savanna Remnants in Northcentral Illinois.

Anthropodynamic soil properties under different land uses were compared at Nachusa Grasslands in northcentral Illinois.  Soil morphology, organic carbon stocks, aggregate stability, bulk density, infiltration, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were quantified in adjacent never cultivated oak savanna remnants, agricultural fields, and chronosequences of prairie restoration.  Soils in the study area were dominated by Mollic Hapludalfs and Typic Argiudolls.  Our discussion will focus on the quantification of these properties and soil resiliency in this soil landscape that is being transformed from agricultural systems to natural area management.