Higher plant diversity in agricultural grasslands increases yields with lower inputs of nitrogen fertilizer. That is the headline finding of a landmark, international study led by Trinity College Dublin that paints a promising picture for more sustainable agriculture.

And in further good news, the research shows that under warmer temperatures, the yield benefits of more diverse grasslands further increase. This highlights the climate adaptation potential of multispecies mixtures in an era where the global climate crisis is driving rising temperatures in many countries.

In this study, the researchers considered whether adding more species (up to two grasses, two legumes, and two herbs) to these grasslands and creating ‘multispecies mixtures’ could maintain or improve yields while reducing the reliance of nitrogen fertilizers that have negative environmental impacts. 

The results showed that multispecies mixtures achieved high yields due to strong grass-legume and legume-herb synergistic interactions – the yield of the mixtures was much greater than the sum of the parts.

MIT researchers developed an aerial microrobot that can fly with speed and agility comparable to real insects. The research opens the door to future bug-sized robots that could aid in search-and-rescue missions.