Scientists find carbon-dioxide increase helps plants, hurts soil

While problems including hotter temperatures and an increase in pest populations raise concern about the potential effects of global warming and climate change on plants, including corn and soybeans in East Central Illinois, there are supposed to be some advantages as well.

For instance, higher levels of carbon dioxide, which plants use to drive photosynthesis, the process by which they convert the energy from light to sugar to fuel their growth, could result in bigger crops, as well as benefit the soil by adding organic matter to it.

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