Summary
This narrative review examines how vascular plant diversity across multiple spatial scales—from individual plant genotypes through in-field crop mixtures to landscape mosaics—regulates ecosystem processes central to ecological intensification. The authors demonstrate that complementarity in plant functional traits enhances productivity, while crop diversity and non-crop plants reduce pest pressure and support soil functions, with landscape-scale heterogeneity providing buffers against environmental extremes. The review emphasises the need to better integrate plant functional diversity into cropping system design and quantify biodiversity's contribution to resilient, efficient agroecosystems relative to other management options.
UK applicability
The principles of ecological intensification through plant diversity are directly relevant to UK farming policy and practice, particularly given domestic sustainability goals and the move away from intensive input-dependent systems. However, the review's conclusions are drawn from global evidence; UK-specific field trials and economic analyses would be needed to optimise diversity-based strategies for local soil, climate, and market conditions.
Key measures
Ecosystem service provision; pest and disease resilience; pollinator and natural enemy resource continuity; below-ground carbon cycling and decomposition; flood and drought risk mitigation; climate regulation; crop productivity maintenance under reduced anthropogenic inputs
Outcomes reported
This review synthesised evidence on how plant biodiversity at multiple spatial scales (genotype, field, landscape) regulates ecosystem processes relevant to ecological intensification. The authors identified how crop mixtures, non-crop plants, and landscape heterogeneity contribute to pest resilience, pollinator support, nutrient cycling, and climate buffering.
Topic tags
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