Multispecies grasslands produce more yield from lower nitrogen inputs across a climatic gradient
Data files
Nov 08, 2025 version files 171.37 KB
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OMalleyetal_analysis_code.sas
1.90 KB
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OMalleyetal_analysis_data_metadata.csv
1.06 KB
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OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv
148.58 KB
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OMalleyetal_Data_S1.xlsx
14.86 KB
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README.md
4.97 KB
Abstract
High-yielding forage grasslands frequently comprise low species diversity and receive high inputs of nitrogen fertilizer. To investigate multispecies mixtures as an alternative strategy, the 26-site international ‘LegacyNet’ experiment systematically varied the diversity of sown grasslands using up to six high-yielding forage species (grasses, legumes, and herbs), managed under moderate nitrogen inputs. Multispecies mixtures outyielded two widely used grassland practices: a grass monoculture with higher nitrogen fertilizer, and a two-species grass-legume community. High yields in multispecies mixtures were driven by strong positive grass-legume and legume-herb interactions. In warmer sites, the yield advantage of legume-containing multispecies mixtures over monocultures and the high-nitrogen grass increased. Improved design of grassland mixtures can inform more environmentally sustainable forage production and may enhance adaptation of productive grasslands to a warming climate.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8931zcs2t
Description of the data and file structure
Data was collected from the grassland ley phase of the LegacyNet network of experiments. A 26-site consortium spanning 15 countries with the aim of testing the benefits of multispecies grassland leys within crop rotations.
Files description:
OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv - .csv file containing growing season yield data from all 26 sites.
OMalleyetal_analysis_metadata.csv - .csv file containing descriptions of the variables contained in the OMalleyetal_data.csv file.
OMalleyetal_analysis_code.sas - .sas program containing all the code required to read in the data and fit the model.
OMalleyetal_Data_S1.xlsx - .xlsx file containing site information from the experimental ley at the 26 sites ("Data" sheet) and metadata ("Metadata" sheet).
Files and variables
File: OMalleyetal_analysis_code.sas
Description: .sas program containing all the code required to read in the data and fit the model in the manuscript "Multispecies grasslands: more yield from lower nitrogen inputs across an environmental gradient".
The SAS program was written in SAS for Windows version 9.4 (SAS software copyright © 2020 SAS Institute Inc.).
Steps to run the code and reproduce the modelling results:
- Download and save the data file "OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv".
- In PROC IMPORT replace the "Path to file" text with the path to the saved data file "OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv".
- Select Run -> Submit to run the code.
File: OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv
Description: .csv file containing growing season yield data from all 26 sites
Variables
- Site_id: A unique identifier for each site in the LegacyNet experiment
- Plot: Plot number
- Community: Unique identifier for each community with the same sown proportions of species G1-H2 at the same nitrogen (N) application level
- NHigh: 0 = plot is treated with a moderate level of N application. 1 = A monoculture of G1 treated with a high level of N application
- G1: Sown proportion of grass 1
- G2: Sown proportion of grass 2
- L1: Sown proportion of legume 1
- L2: Sown proportion of legume 2
- H1: Sown proportion of herb 1
- H2: Sown proportion of herb 2
- GH: (G1xH1)0.7816041 + (G1xH2)0.7816041 + (G2xH1)0.7816041+ (G2xH2)0.7816041
- GL: (G1xL1)0.7816041 + (G1xL2)0.7816041 + (G2xL1)0.7816041+ (G2xL2)0.7816041
- HL: (H1xL1)0.7816041 + (H1xL2)0.7816041 + (H2xL1)0.7816041 + (H2xL2)0.7816041
- GG: (G1xG2)0.7816041
- HH: (H1xH2)0.7816041
- LL: (L1xL2)0.7816041
- t_c: Mean daily temperature centered across sites
- Yield: Total yield for each plot annualised to one full growing season in tonnes per hectare per growing season
File: OMalleyetal_analysis_data_metadata.csv
Description: .csv file containing descriptions of the variables contained in the OMalleyetal_analysis_data.csv file
File: OMalleyetal_Data_S1.xlsx
Description: .xlsx file containing detailed site information ("Data" sheet) and metadata ("Metadata" sheet).
Data sheet variables:
- Site_id: A unique identifier for each site in the LegacyNet experiment
- Country: Name of the country where the site was located
- Lat: Latitude in decimal degrees of the location of the site
- Long: Longitude in decimal degrees of the location of the site
- G1: Grass 1 species name where L. perenne - Lolium perenne, P. pratense - Phleum pratense, B. inermis - Bromus inermis, F. krasanii - Festulolium krasanii
- G2: Grass 2 species name where L. perenne - Lolium perenne, P. pratense - Phleum pratense, F. arundinacea - Festuca arundinacea, E. dahuricus - Elymus dahuricus, D. glomerata - Dactylis glomerata
- L1: Legume 1 species name where T. pratense - Trifolium pratense, O. viciifolia - Onobrychis viciifolia, L. corniculatus - Lotus corniculatus
- L2: Legume 2 species name where T. repens - Trifolium repens, M. sativa - Medicago sativa, L. corniculatus - Lotus corniculatus
- H1: Herb 1 species name where C. intybus - Cichorium intybus, S. divaricata - Saposhnikovia divaricata
- H2: Herb 2 species name where P. lanceolata - Plantago lanceolata, S. divaricata - Saposhnikovia divaricata, P. asiatica - Plantago asiatica
- Sow_date: Sowing date of the experimental ley
- Duration: Duration of the experimental ley in months
- HarvestN: Total number of harvests conducted during the experimental ley
- N_mod: Moderate N rate applied to plots in kg per hectare per annum
- N_high: High N rate applied to plots in kg per hectare per annum
- Av_temp: Mean daily temperature in degrees Celsius across the ley period (from the date of establishment to the final harvest)
- Av_precip: Mean daily precipitation in millimetres across the ley period (from the date of establishment to the final harvest)