Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time
Ecological research suggests increased diversity may improve ecosystem services, as well as yield stability; however, such theories are sometimes disproven by agronomic research, particularly at higher diversity levels. We conducted a meta-analysis on 2,753 studies in 48 articles published over the...
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ftpubmed:oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:6039048 2023-05-15T18:28:36+02:00 Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time Ashworth, Amanda J. Toler, Heather D. Allen, Fred L. Augé, Robert M. 2018-07-10 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039048/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29990337 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 en eng Public Library of Science http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039048/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29990337 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) public domain dedication. CC0 PDM Research Article Text 2018 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 2018-07-22T00:22:03Z Ecological research suggests increased diversity may improve ecosystem services, as well as yield stability; however, such theories are sometimes disproven by agronomic research, particularly at higher diversity levels. We conducted a meta-analysis on 2,753 studies in 48 articles published over the last 53 years to test: if biological N2 fixation (BNF) supplies adequate nitrogen (N) for plant growth relative to synthetic fertilizers; how crop physiological traits affect legume-grass symbiosis; and, how cultural practices affect BNF over a range of soils and climates overtime (in polycultures versus sole grasslands). Globally, net primary productivity (NPP; total aboveground production response of grass and legume in higher-diversity treatments) increased 44% via legume associations relative to sole grass controls (including both with and without N fertilizer). Several moderating variables affected NPP including: (i) plant photosynthetic pathway (mixtures of C3 grasses resulted in a 57% increase in NPP, whereas mixtures of C4 grasses resulted in a 31% increase; similarly cool-season legumes increased NPP 52% compared to a 27% increase for warm-season legumes relative to grasslands without diversity); (ii) legume life cycle [NPP response for perennial legume mixtures was 50% greater than sole grass controls, followed by a 28% increase for biennial, and a 0% increase for annual legumes)]; and, (iii) species richness (one leguminous species in a grassland agroecosystem resulted in 52% increase in NPP, whereas >2 legumes resulted in only 6% increases). Temporal and spatial effect sizes also influenced facilitation, considering facilitation was greatest (114% change) in Mediterranean climates followed by oceanic (84%), and tropical savanna (65%) environments; conversely, semiarid and subarctic systems had lowest Rhizobium-induced changes (5 and 0% change, respectively). Facilitation of grass production by legumes was also affected by soil texture. For example, a 122% NPP increase was observed in silt clay soils ... Text Subarctic PubMed Central (PMC) PLOS ONE 13 7 e0200274 |
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Research Article Ashworth, Amanda J. Toler, Heather D. Allen, Fred L. Augé, Robert M. Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
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Research Article |
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Ecological research suggests increased diversity may improve ecosystem services, as well as yield stability; however, such theories are sometimes disproven by agronomic research, particularly at higher diversity levels. We conducted a meta-analysis on 2,753 studies in 48 articles published over the last 53 years to test: if biological N2 fixation (BNF) supplies adequate nitrogen (N) for plant growth relative to synthetic fertilizers; how crop physiological traits affect legume-grass symbiosis; and, how cultural practices affect BNF over a range of soils and climates overtime (in polycultures versus sole grasslands). Globally, net primary productivity (NPP; total aboveground production response of grass and legume in higher-diversity treatments) increased 44% via legume associations relative to sole grass controls (including both with and without N fertilizer). Several moderating variables affected NPP including: (i) plant photosynthetic pathway (mixtures of C3 grasses resulted in a 57% increase in NPP, whereas mixtures of C4 grasses resulted in a 31% increase; similarly cool-season legumes increased NPP 52% compared to a 27% increase for warm-season legumes relative to grasslands without diversity); (ii) legume life cycle [NPP response for perennial legume mixtures was 50% greater than sole grass controls, followed by a 28% increase for biennial, and a 0% increase for annual legumes)]; and, (iii) species richness (one leguminous species in a grassland agroecosystem resulted in 52% increase in NPP, whereas >2 legumes resulted in only 6% increases). Temporal and spatial effect sizes also influenced facilitation, considering facilitation was greatest (114% change) in Mediterranean climates followed by oceanic (84%), and tropical savanna (65%) environments; conversely, semiarid and subarctic systems had lowest Rhizobium-induced changes (5 and 0% change, respectively). Facilitation of grass production by legumes was also affected by soil texture. For example, a 122% NPP increase was observed in silt clay soils ... |
format |
Text |
author |
Ashworth, Amanda J. Toler, Heather D. Allen, Fred L. Augé, Robert M. |
author_facet |
Ashworth, Amanda J. Toler, Heather D. Allen, Fred L. Augé, Robert M. |
author_sort |
Ashworth, Amanda J. |
title |
Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
title_short |
Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
title_full |
Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
title_fullStr |
Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
title_full_unstemmed |
Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
title_sort |
global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039048/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29990337 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 |
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Subarctic |
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Subarctic |
op_relation |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039048/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29990337 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 |
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https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) public domain dedication. |
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200274 |
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