SOC storage of different soil-sized fractions in perennial bioenergy crops on marginally productive cropland in southern Canada

This dataset presents results on our study that quantified C contribution to different soil-sized fractions - macro- (250-2000 μm diameter), micro- (53-250 μm diameter), and silt + clay-sized fractions (<53 μm) in perennial bioenergy crops of Miscanthus, switchgrass, and willow on marginally productive cropland in southern Canada using the ¹³C natural abundance stable isotope technique. Findings from our study revealed that the ability of perennial bioenergy crops to influence soil organic carbon storage similar to regrowth vegetation on marginal croplands depends significantly on the crop species. Among the three bioenergy crops evaluated, Miscanthus showed the greatest potential for long-term carbon storage and stabilization in deeper soil depths. This occurred even with annual biomass harvest and the absence of fertilization, making Miscanthus a valuable contributor to climate change mitigation.