Synergism between production and soil health through crop diversification, organic amendments and crop protection in wheat‐based systems

Abstract One of the critical challenges in agriculture is enhancing yield without compromising its foundation, a healthy environment and, particularly, soils. Hence, there an urgent need to identify management practices that simultaneously support soil health and production help achieve environmentally sound systems. To investigate how influences under realistic agronomic conditions, we conducted on‐farm study involving 60 wheat fields managed conventionally, no‐till or organically. We assessed 68 variables defining management, properties. examined systems individual describing crop diversification, fertiliser inputs, agrochemical use disturbance influenced production—quantity quality—and focusing on aspects ranging from organic matter over structure microbial abundance diversity. Our comparison showed marked differences between current system: resulted best overall (+47%) but most significant gap (−34%) compared conventional management. No‐till were generally intermediate, exhibiting smaller (−17%) only marginally improved level (+5%) Yet, overlap properties was considerably large. results further highlight importance for productivity by revealing positive associations properties, particularly whereas factors such as weed pressure more dominant None three advantages supporting production‐soil health‐based multifunctionality. In contrast, cross‐system analysis suggests multifunctional agroecosystems could be achieved through combination diversification amendments with effective protection. Synthesis applications : implies trade‐offs managing overcome balanced incorporating alternative approaches. Such multifunctionality unlock synergies vital ecosystem services productive yet supported