Grasslands enhance ecosystem service multifunctionality above and below?ground in agricultural landscapes

Managing agricultural landscapes integrate production, biodiversity conservation and the flow of ecosystem services (ES) is paramount importance to simultaneously meet production goals environmental challenges. However, response farmland multiple ES land-use change at spatial scales remains poorly understood. We explored effects local (grassland vs. oilseed rape fields) landscape scale (cover permanent grasslands) on provision (plants, arthropods, birds), five (pollination, pest control, soil fertility, carbon storage water regulation) overall ES-multifunctionality. ES-multifunctionality was higher in grasslands than crop fields, by 25.2% above-ground 106.1% below-ground. Multiple threshold analyses highlighted a particularly poor level performance for below-ground functions fields. This habitat type however capable providing numerous simultaneously, although low levels when compared maximum values recorded study. Grasslands supported pollination, regulation. Landscape composition influenced ES: 10% increase grassland cover enhanced 11.0% both habitats. In particular, arthropod diversity, pollination control provided carabids. Synthesis applications. The results this field study show key preserving semi-natural biodiversity, protection soils delivery critical production. Maximization multifunctionality necessitates integration (0.5–2 km) patches within intensively farmed matrix. would require not only existing grasslands, but also their restoration simplified landscapes. promotion mixed farming (i.e., livestock production) might scale.