Summary
This empirical study demonstrates that increased land use intensity in agricultural systems improves primary production and nutrient cycling functions but simultaneously reduces climate regulation and biodiversity habitat provision in soils. By restricting analysis to a narrow geographic region and combining detailed commercial farm management data with multifunctional soil assessment, the authors isolate management effects from pedoclimatic variability. The findings indicate fundamental trade-offs between production-focused management and broader soil multifunctionality, suggesting that sustainable intensification frameworks require reframing beyond field-scale production metrics.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in the eastern Netherlands and may have direct applicability to similar temperate European agricultural contexts, including the United Kingdom, particularly for intensive grassland and arable systems. However, findings would benefit from validation across diverse UK soil types, climates, and management systems before informing UK policy or practice.
Key measures
Land use intensity calculated from 11 management indicators; soil functions quantified using the Soil Navigator Decision Support System across 45 grasslands and 37 croplands
Outcomes reported
The study quantified how land use intensity (LUI) affects multiple soil functions—including primary production, nutrient cycling, water regulation, climate regulation, and biodiversity habitat—across 82 commercial farms in grasslands and croplands under conventional, organic, and semi-natural management. Higher LUI improved primary production and nutrient cycling but reduced climate regulation and habitat for biodiversity.
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