More diverse crop rotations have been promoted for their potential to remediate the range of ecosystem services compromised by biologically simplified grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90based agroecosystems, including increasing soil organic carbon (SOC). We hypothesized that functional diversity offers a more predictive means of characterizing the impact of crop rotations on SOC concentrations than species diversity per se. Furthermore, we hypothesized that functional diversity can either increase or decrease SOC depending on its associated carbon (C) input to soil. We compiled a database of 27 cropping system sites and 169 cropping systems, recorded the species and functional diversity of crop rotations, SOC concentrations (g C kg/soil), nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications (kg\uffc2\uffa0N\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921\uffc2\uffb7yr\uffe2\uff88\uff921), and estimated C input to soil (Mg\uffc2\uffa0C\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921\uffc2\uffb7yr\uffe2\uff88\uff921). We categorized crop rotations into three broad categories: grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations, grain rotations with cover crops, and grain rotations with perennial crops. We divided the grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations into two sub\uffe2\uff80\uff90categories: cereal\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations and those that included both cereals and a legume grain. We compared changes in SOC and C input using mean effect sizes and 95% bootstrapped confidence intervals. Cover cropped and perennial cropped rotations, relative to grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations, increased C input by 42% and 23% and SOC concentrations by 6.3% and 12.5%, respectively. Within grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations, cereal\uffc2\uffa0+\uffc2\uffa0legume grain rotations decreased total C input (\uffe2\uff88\uff9216%), root C input (\uffe2\uff88\uff9212%), and SOC (\uffe2\uff88\uff925.3%) relative to cereal\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations. We found no effect of species diversity on SOC within grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only rotations. N fertilizer rates mediated the effect of functional diversity on SOC within grain\uffe2\uff80\uff90only crop rotations: at low N fertilizer rates (\uffe2\uff89\uffa475\uffc2\uffa0kg N\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921\uffc2\uffb7yr\uffe2\uff88\uff921), the decrease in SOC with cereal\uffc2\uffa0+\uffc2\uffa0legume grain rotations was less than at high N fertilizer rates. Our results show that increasing the functional diversity of crop rotations is more likely to increase SOC concentrations if it is accompanied by an increase in C input. Functionally diverse perennial and cover cropped rotations increased both C input and SOC concentrations, potentially by exploiting niches in time that would otherwise be unproductive, that is, increasing the \uffe2\uff80\uff9cperenniality\uffe2\uff80\uff9d of crop rotations.
", "keywords": ["Crops", " Agricultural", "2. Zero hunger", "Science", "Ecology and Evolutionary Biology", "Agriculture", "Fabaceae", "cropping systems", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "functional diversity", "Poaceae", "sustainable agriculture", "Soil", "meta\u2010analysis", "soil organic matter", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "cover crops", "soil carbon", "Organic Chemicals", "perennials", "Fertilizers", "nitrogen fertilizer", "biodiversity"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1648"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Ecological%20Applications", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1002/eap.1648", "name": "item", "description": "10.1002/eap.1648", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1002/eap.1648"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-12-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/gcbb.12631", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:18:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-05-27", "title": "A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal", "description": "AbstractCorn (Zea mays L.) stover is a global resource used for livestock, fuel, and bioenergy feedstock, but excessive stover removal can decrease soil organic C (SOC) stocks and deteriorate soil health. Many site\uffe2\uff80\uff90specific stover removal experiments report accrual rates and SOC stock effects, but a quantitative, global synthesis is needed to provide a scientific base for long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term energy policy decisions. We used 409 data points from 74 stover harvest experiments conducted around the world for a meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis and meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90regression to quantify removal rate, tillage, soil texture, and soil sampling depth effects on SOC. Changes were quantified by: (a) comparing final SOC stock differences after at least 3\uffc2\uffa0years with and without stover removal and (b) calculating SOC accrual rates for both treatments. Stover removal generally reduced final SOC stocks by 8% in the upper 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9315 or 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm, compared to stover retained, irrespective of soil properties and tillage practices. A more sensitive meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90regression analysis showed that retention increased SOC stocks within the 30\uffe2\uff80\uff93150\uffc2\uffa0cm depth by another 5%. Compared to baseline values, stover retention increased average SOC stocks temporally at a rate of 0.41\uffc2\uffa0Mg C\uffc2\uffa0ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921\uffc2\uffa0year\uffe2\uff88\uff921 (statistically significant at p\uffc2\uffa0<\uffc2\uffa00.01 when averaged across all soil layers). Although SOC sequestration rates were lower with stover removal, with moderate (<50%) removal they can be positive, thus emphasizing the importance of site\uffe2\uff80\uff90specific management. Our results also showed that tillage effects on SOC stocks were inconsistent due to the high variability in practices used among the experimental sites. Finally, we conclude that research and technological efforts should continue to be given high priority because of the importance in providing science\uffe2\uff80\uff90based policy recommendations for long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term global carbon management.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "TJ807-830", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "carbon sequestration", "Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade", "Renewable energy sources", "soil organic carbon", "corn", "meta\u2010analysis", "13. Climate action", "tillage", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "HD9502-9502.5", "stover removal"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12631"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/GCB%20Bioenergy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/gcbb.12631", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/gcbb.12631", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/gcbb.12631"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-07-02T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/gcb.14839", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:18:50Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-09-13", "title": "Multiple trade-offs regulate the effects of woody plant removal on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in global rangelands", "description": "AbstractWoody plant encroachment is a major land management issue. Woody removal often aims to restore the original grassy ecosystem, but few studies have assessed the role of woody removal on ecosystem functions and biodiversity at global scales. We collected data from 140 global studies and evaluated how different woody plant removal methods affected biodiversity (plant and animal diversity) and ecosystem functions (plant production, hydrological function, soil carbon) across global rangelands. Our results indicate that the impact of removal is strongly context dependent, varying with the specific response variable, removal method, and traits of the target species. Over all treatments, woody plant removal increased grass biomass and total groundstorey diversity. Physical and chemical removal methods increased grass biomass and total groundstorey biomass (i.e., non\uffe2\uff80\uff90woody plants, including grass biomass), but burning reduced animal diversity. The impact of different treatment methods declined with time since removal, particularly for total groundstorey biomass. Removing pyramid\uffe2\uff80\uff90shaped woody plants increased total groundstorey biomass and hydrological function but reduced total groundstorey diversity. Environmental context (e.g., aridity and soil texture) indirectly controlled the effect of removal on biomass and biodiversity by influencing plant traits such as plant shape, allelopathic, or roots types. Our study demonstrates that a one\uffe2\uff80\uff90size\uffe2\uff80\uff90fits\uffe2\uff80\uff90all approach to woody plant removal is not appropriate, and that consideration of woody plant identity, removal method, and environmental context is critical for optimizing removal outcomes. Applying this knowledge is fundamental for maintaining diverse and functional rangeland ecosystems as we move toward a drier and more variable climate.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "Rangeland management", "Biodiversity", "Plants", "15. Life on land", "Poaceae", "Wood", "01 natural sciences", "Encroachment", "", "Removal method", "raits", "Woody plant traits", "Shrub removal", "13. Climate action", "XXXXXX - Unknown", "Meta\u2010analysis", "Animals", "Thickening", "Biomass", "Global synthesis", "Ecosystem"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14839"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Global%20Change%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/gcb.14839", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/gcb.14839", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/gcb.14839"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-10-06T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "1959.7/uws:64180", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:25:35Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-09-13", "title": "Multiple trade\u2010offs regulate the effects of woody plant removal on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in global rangelands", "description": "AbstractWoody plant encroachment is a major land management issue. Woody removal often aims to restore the original grassy ecosystem, but few studies have assessed the role of woody removal on ecosystem functions and biodiversity at global scales. We collected data from 140 global studies and evaluated how different woody plant removal methods affected biodiversity (plant and animal diversity) and ecosystem functions (plant production, hydrological function, soil carbon) across global rangelands. Our results indicate that the impact of removal is strongly context dependent, varying with the specific response variable, removal method, and traits of the target species. Over all treatments, woody plant removal increased grass biomass and total groundstorey diversity. Physical and chemical removal methods increased grass biomass and total groundstorey biomass (i.e., non\uffe2\uff80\uff90woody plants, including grass biomass), but burning reduced animal diversity. The impact of different treatment methods declined with time since removal, particularly for total groundstorey biomass. Removing pyramid\uffe2\uff80\uff90shaped woody plants increased total groundstorey biomass and hydrological function but reduced total groundstorey diversity. Environmental context (e.g., aridity and soil texture) indirectly controlled the effect of removal on biomass and biodiversity by influencing plant traits such as plant shape, allelopathic, or roots types. Our study demonstrates that a one\uffe2\uff80\uff90size\uffe2\uff80\uff90fits\uffe2\uff80\uff90all approach to woody plant removal is not appropriate, and that consideration of woody plant identity, removal method, and environmental context is critical for optimizing removal outcomes. Applying this knowledge is fundamental for maintaining diverse and functional rangeland ecosystems as we move toward a drier and more variable climate.