TY - GEN
T1 - Site effects on species productivity and dynamics
T2 - Biodiversity and animal feed: future challenges for grassland production. Proceedings of the 22nd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation
AU - Collins, R. P.
AU - Fothergill, M.
AU - Rees, Elaine M.
AU - Kirwan, L.
AU - Brophy, C.
AU - Connolly, J.
A2 - Hopkins, A.
A2 - Gustafsson, T.
A2 - Bertilsson, J.
A2 - Hopkins, A.
A2 - Gustafsson, T.
A2 - Bertilsson, J.
A2 - Dalin, G.
A2 - Nilsdotter-Linde, N.
A2 - Spörndly, E.
N1 - 22nd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Uppsala, Sweden, 9-12 June 2008. In: Grassland Science in Europe, 13, 230-232
RONO: 1920 4209
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - An experiment quantifying diversity-function relationships in agro-ecosystems (COST 852) was established at a range of sites in Europe, including two sites in Wales. These were located in Aberystwyth (AB: lowland), and in Bronydd Mawr (BM: upland). The species and varieties within species were identical in the two sites, as were all major management factors. The species used were two grasses (Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) and Dactylis glomerata L. (cocksfoot)) and two legumes (Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) and T. repens L. (white clover)). In addition to the core COST 852 experiment, both sites also included an extra treatment whereby the genetic heterogeneity of the legumes was greatly increased by constructing mechanical mixtures comprising seed of many cultivars/populations. The results highlighted substantial differences in plant responses between the upland and lowland sites. The two contrasting environments produced two sets of quite different communities at the end of the experiment, and these were arrived at through very different patterns of species dynamics. However, in both sites, mixtures significantly outperformed monocultures in terms of yield of sown species over three years, exemplifying the agronomic benefits of species diversity. There was no consistent effect of legume genetic heterogeneity on community structure or function.
AB - An experiment quantifying diversity-function relationships in agro-ecosystems (COST 852) was established at a range of sites in Europe, including two sites in Wales. These were located in Aberystwyth (AB: lowland), and in Bronydd Mawr (BM: upland). The species and varieties within species were identical in the two sites, as were all major management factors. The species used were two grasses (Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) and Dactylis glomerata L. (cocksfoot)) and two legumes (Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) and T. repens L. (white clover)). In addition to the core COST 852 experiment, both sites also included an extra treatment whereby the genetic heterogeneity of the legumes was greatly increased by constructing mechanical mixtures comprising seed of many cultivars/populations. The results highlighted substantial differences in plant responses between the upland and lowland sites. The two contrasting environments produced two sets of quite different communities at the end of the experiment, and these were arrived at through very different patterns of species dynamics. However, in both sites, mixtures significantly outperformed monocultures in terms of yield of sown species over three years, exemplifying the agronomic benefits of species diversity. There was no consistent effect of legume genetic heterogeneity on community structure or function.
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/2160/12427
M3 - Conference Proceeding (Non-Journal item)
SN - 9789185911479
VL - 13
T3 - Grassland Science in Europe
SP - 230
EP - 232
BT - Biodiversity and animal feed: future challenges for grassland production
PB - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Y2 - 9 June 2008 through 12 June 2008
ER -