Results from a four year study completed at the University of Illinois demonstrates that environmental nitrogen fluxes from row crop agriculture can be greatly reduced after the establishment of perennial biofuel crops such as miscanthus, switchgrass and mixed prairie species. Each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen levels, however miscanthus had the best results. Once a dense, productive crop was established in the second year of growth, nitrate leaching in tile drainage quickly decreased. By year four each of the perennial crops had small nitrogen loss. The study also found that miscanthus also efficiently moved nitrogen from leaves to roots and rhizome systems after the growing season for use the next year.