07 May 2024 | Franziska J. Richter, Matthias Suter, Andreas Lüscher, Nina Buchmann, Nadja El Benni, Rafaela Feola Conz, Martin Hartmann, Pierrick Jan, Valentin H. Klaus
This study examines the effects of three common management practices—organic production, extensive management, and harvest type (pasture vs. meadow)—on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of Swiss agricultural grasslands. The research assesses how these practices and their interactions influence 22 plot-level ecosystem service indicators, including provisioning, supporting/regulating, and cultural services. The results show that while organic production and interactions between the management aspects have minor effects, extensive management and harvest type significantly shape single services. Specifically, extensive management and pasture enhance plot-scale ecosystem-service multifunctionality by facilitating cultural services at the expense of provisioning services. These changes are driven by reduced fertilizer input and harvest frequency. The study concludes that diversifying grassland management, particularly where it is currently homogeneous, is a crucial step to improve landscape-scale multifunctionality for sustainable grassland systems. To meet societal ecosystem service demands, the three management aspects can be systematically combined to increase ecosystem services that are currently lacking.This study examines the effects of three common management practices—organic production, extensive management, and harvest type (pasture vs. meadow)—on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of Swiss agricultural grasslands. The research assesses how these practices and their interactions influence 22 plot-level ecosystem service indicators, including provisioning, supporting/regulating, and cultural services. The results show that while organic production and interactions between the management aspects have minor effects, extensive management and harvest type significantly shape single services. Specifically, extensive management and pasture enhance plot-scale ecosystem-service multifunctionality by facilitating cultural services at the expense of provisioning services. These changes are driven by reduced fertilizer input and harvest frequency. The study concludes that diversifying grassland management, particularly where it is currently homogeneous, is a crucial step to improve landscape-scale multifunctionality for sustainable grassland systems. To meet societal ecosystem service demands, the three management aspects can be systematically combined to increase ecosystem services that are currently lacking.