TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversifying bioenergy crops increases yield and yield stability by reducing weed abundance
AU - Jungers, Jacob M.
AU - Yang, Yi
AU - Fernandez, Christopher W.
AU - Isbell, Forest
AU - Lehman, Clarence
AU - Wyse, Don
AU - Sheaffer, Craig
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved;
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Relationships between species diversity, productivity, temporal stability of productivity, and plant invasion have been well documented in grasslands, and these relationships could translate to improved agricultural sustainability. However, few studies have explored these relationships in agricultural contexts where fertility and weeds are managed. Using 7 years of biomass yield and species composition data from 12 species mixture treatments varying in native species diversity, we found that species richness increased yield and interannual yield stability by reducing weed abundance. Stability was driven by yield as opposed to temporal variability of yield. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield but at the expense of yield stability. We show how relationships between diversity, species asynchrony, invasion, productivity, and stability observed in natural grasslands can extend into managed agricultural systems. Increasing bioenergy crop diversity can improve farmer economics via increased yield, reduced yield variability, and reduced inputs for weed control, thus promoting perennial vegetation on agricultural lands.
AB - Relationships between species diversity, productivity, temporal stability of productivity, and plant invasion have been well documented in grasslands, and these relationships could translate to improved agricultural sustainability. However, few studies have explored these relationships in agricultural contexts where fertility and weeds are managed. Using 7 years of biomass yield and species composition data from 12 species mixture treatments varying in native species diversity, we found that species richness increased yield and interannual yield stability by reducing weed abundance. Stability was driven by yield as opposed to temporal variability of yield. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield but at the expense of yield stability. We show how relationships between diversity, species asynchrony, invasion, productivity, and stability observed in natural grasslands can extend into managed agricultural systems. Increasing bioenergy crop diversity can improve farmer economics via increased yield, reduced yield variability, and reduced inputs for weed control, thus promoting perennial vegetation on agricultural lands.
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U2 - 10.1126/sciadv.abg8531
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.abg8531
M3 - Article
C2 - 34714680
AN - SCOPUS:85118380978
SN - 2375-2548
VL - 7
JO - Science Advances
JF - Science Advances
IS - 44
M1 - eabg8531
ER -