Genetically modified grass saves soils destroyed by military target practice GMOs to the rescue! A A Reset A common species of prairie grass can help clean soils of dangerous chemicals released by military-grade compounds, a new paper reports. The only catch (at least, in the eyes of some), is that we need to genetically modify it for the task. A plot of switchgrass. Image credits Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center / Flickr. Genetically modified (GM) switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum) can be used to purge soils of RDX residues, according to new research. RDX belongs to the nitramide chemical family, is flavorless, odorless, and