Multispecies grasslands produce more yield from lower nitrogen inputs across a climatic gradient

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.
, , # Multispecies grasslands produce more yield from lower nitrogen inputs across a climatic gradient

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.8931zcs2t](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: OMall...,