%AIsbell, Forest [Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1987 Upper Buford Circle Saint Paul MN 55108 USA]%AIsbell, Forest [Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; 1987 Upper Buford Circle Saint Paul MN 55108 USA]%AAdler, Paul [USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit University Park PA 16802 USA]%AAdler, Paul [USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit; University Park PA 16802 USA]%AEisenhauer, Nico [German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany, Institute of Biology Leipzig University Johannisallee 21 04103 Leipzig Germany]%AEisenhauer, Nico [German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany; Institute of Biology; Leipzig University; Johannisallee 21 04103 Leipzig Germany]%AFornara, Dario [Agri‐Food &, Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX UK]%AFornara, Dario [Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI); Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX UK]%AKimmel, Kaitlin [Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; 1987 Upper Buford Circle Saint Paul MN 55108 USA]%AKimmel, Kaitlin [Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1987 Upper Buford Circle Saint Paul MN 55108 USA]%AKremen, Claire [Environmental Sciences Policy and Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720‐3114 USA]%AKremen, Claire [Environmental Sciences Policy and Management; University of California Berkeley; Berkeley CA 94720-3114 USA]%ALetourneau, Deborah [Department of Environmental Studies; University of California; Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA]%ALetourneau, Deborah [Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA]%ALiebman, Matt [Department of Agronomy Iowa State University Ames IA 50011 USA]%ALiebman, Matt [Department of Agronomy; Iowa State University; Ames IA 50011 USA]%APolley, H. [USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil &, Water Research Laboratory Temple TX 76502 USA]%APolley, H. [USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil & Water Research Laboratory; Temple TX 76502 USA]%AQuijas, Sandra [Centro Universitario de la Costa Universidad de Guadalajara Puerto Vallarta Jalisco 48280 Mexico]%AQuijas, Sandra [Centro Universitario de la Costa; Universidad de Guadalajara; Puerto Vallarta Jalisco 48280 Mexico]%AScherer-Lorenzen, Michael [Geobotany, Faculty of Biology; University of Freiburg; Schaenzlestr, 1 79104 Freiburg Germany]%AScherer‐Lorenzen, Michael [Geobotany, Faculty of Biology University of Freiburg Schaenzlestr, 1 79104 Freiburg Germany]%ABardgett, ed., Richard%ABardgett, ed., Richard%BJournal Name: Journal of Ecology; Journal Volume: 105; Journal Issue: 4; Related Information: CHORUS Timestamp: 2023-09-02 06:55:12 %D2017%IWiley-Blackwell %JJournal Name: Journal of Ecology; Journal Volume: 105; Journal Issue: 4; Related Information: CHORUS Timestamp: 2023-09-02 06:55:12 %K %MOSTI ID: 10039662 %PMedium: X %TBenefits of increasing plant diversity in sustainable agroecosystems %XSummary

Recent studies have revealed many potential benefits of increasing plant diversity in natural ecosystems, as well as in agroecosystems and production forests. Plant diversity potentially provides a partial to complete substitute for many costly agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, imported pollinators and irrigation. Diversification strategies include enhancing crop genetic diversity, mixed plantings, rotating crops, agroforestry and diversifying landscapes surrounding croplands.

Here we briefly review studies considering how increasing plant diversity influences the production of crops, forage, and wood, yield stability, and several regulating and supporting agroecosystem services. We also discuss challenges and recommendations for diversifying agroecosystems.

There is consistently strong evidence that strategically increasing plant diversity increases crop and forage yield, wood production, yield stability, pollinators, weed suppression and pest suppression, whereas effects of diversification on soil nutrients and carbon remain poorly understood.

Synthesis. The benefits of diversifying agroecosystems are expected to be greatest where the aims are to sustainably intensify production while reducing conventional inputs or to optimize both yields and ecosystem services. Over the next few decades, as monoculture yields continue to decelerate or decline for many crops, and as demand for ecosystem services continues to rise, diversification could become an essential tool for sustaining production and ecosystem services in croplands, rangelands and production forests.

%0Journal Article