Multispecies forage grasslands can increase yields with lower nitrogen inputs

This study shows that diverse forage grassland mixtures can outperform conventional high-input systems while requiring less nitrogen fertilizer. Based on a 26-site international experiment, the authors find that mixtures combining grasses, legumes and herbs achieved consistently high yields, exceeding both high-nitrogen grass monocultures and common two-species grass–legume systems. The yield advantage was especially strong in warmer locations, suggesting that well-designed multispecies grasslands could support more sustainable forage production and improve climate adaptation in livestock systems.