New study examines variability of water, carbon in Missouri agriculture ecosystems and future impact on crops

One of the main reasons plants use water is to allow them to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This means that in plants, the water and carbon cycles are tightly linked. In a new study, researchers from the University of Missouri and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have used this foundational principle to identify sustainable farming practices aimed at helping staple crops like corn and soybeans thrive during extreme weather conditions that have become more common in the Midwest.