Abstract
Biofuels have the potential to help mitigate climate change through their role as alternative energy and through their ability to capture atmospheric CO2 and convert into stable soil carbon (C) via photosynthesis. However, biofuels vary on the amount of C they retain, and this variance is likely driven by differences in plant traits. With this study we set out to investigate how six cultivars of candidate bioenergy grasses (three cultivars of switchgrass and three cultivars of big bluestem) vary in root traits and chemistry of C inputs and how this affects the accumulation of C4 plant-derived C across a 30 cm depth profile in the soil. By understanding how species and cultivar types impact the retention of soil C, we can better adapt planting strategies for biofuel and agricultural industries that promote soil C formation and stability and help mitigate the effects of climate change.