If you could explore the tallgrass prairie underground this is what you might find. . . The top few inches of prairie soil is filled with a tangle of plant roots, rhizomes and other underground plant parts which make a layer of thick fibers that hold the earth tightly together. Prairies are often found in dry climates. Some prairie plants must send their roots deep into the soil to get enough moisture to survive. Prairie wildflowers usually don't compete with prairie grasses for moisture because they often send their roots much deeper into the ground.
Prairie soils provide food for America and many other countries.
Crops of corn and wheat grow in parts of our country where tallgrass prairies once covered the land. You can find more complete lists of Aullwood flora and fauna here Along with plants, animals are an important part of the living prairie community. They are vital to the prairie nutrient cycle. When animals die, decomposers such as bacteria help to return nutrients back to the soil for plants to use, completing the prairie nutrient cycle. Prairie soils contain a whole world of life so small that you need a microscope to be able to see it.