O'Malley J., Finn J. A., Malisch C. S., Suter M., Meyer S. T., Peratoner G., Thivierge M.-N., Abalos D., Adler P. R., Bezemer M., Black A. D., Ergon A., Golinska B., Grange G., Hakl J., Hoekstra N. J., Huguenin-Elie O., Jing J., Jungers J. M., Lajeunesse J., Loges R., Louarn G., Lüscher A., Moloney T., Reynolds C. K., Sturite I., Sultan Khan A., Vishwakarma R., Zhang Y., Zhu F., Brophy C.
Multispecies grasslands produce more yield from lower nitrogen inputs across a climatic gradient.
High-yielding forage grasslands frequently comprise low species diversity and receive high inputs of nitrogen fertilizer. To investigate multispecies mixtures as an alternative strategy, the 26-site international ‘LegacyNet’ experiment systematically varied the diversity of sown grasslands using up to six high-yielding forage species (grasses, legumes, and herbs), managed under moderate nitrogen inputs. Multispecies mixtures outyielded two widely used grassland practices: a grass monoculture with higher nitrogen fertilizer, and a two-species grass-legume community. High yields in multispecies mixtures were driven by strong positive grass-legume and legume-herb interactions. In warmer sites, the yield advantage of legume-containing multispecies mixtures over monocultures and the high-nitrogen grass increased. Improved design of grassland mixtures can inform more environmentally sustainable forage production and may enhance adaptation of productive grasslands to a warming climate.
