Summary
Intensive agricultural production is necessary to feed a growing world population. Unfortunately, modern agriculture can degrade soil ecosystems in ways that compromise the other services we depend on soils to provide for us. Millions of acres of farmland have been retired from production in the Midwestern US in the last few decades, and this land provides an opportunity to restore soil services on a large scale. However, the legacy of agriculture may prevent the successful reestablishment of healthy soil ecosystems, especially when native tree species rely on specialized microbial association
