@article{fdi:010082767,
  title = {{I}ncreasing plant diversity promotes ecosystem functions in rainfed rice based short rotations in {M}alagasy highlands},
  author = {{R}ipoche, {A}. and {A}utfray, {P}. and {R}abary, {B}. and {R}andriamanantsoa, {R}. and {B}lanchart, {E}ric and {T}rap, {J}ean and {S}auvadet, {M}arie and {B}ecquer, {T}hierry and {L}etourmy, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}lant diversification is one of the main ways to ecologically intensify agroecosystems to improve their sustainability and resilience. {R}otations and/or a mixture of crops can mitigate pest and weed infestation, reduce diseases, and improve soil fertility and crop productivity. {H}owever, rainfed rice yields in the {M}alagasy highlands remain low despite the frequent use of cropping systems including crop rotations and mixtures. {I}n this study, we compared three rainfed rice based short rotations with rainfed rice monocropping to quantify the benefits of plant diversification on different ecosystem functions such as weed and nematode control, soil fertility, soil macrofauna abundance and diversity, and rice yield over four cropping seasons. {T}he three rotations were based on rice in rotation with one legume, groundnut ({RG}), a cereal-legume mixture, sorghum and cowpea ({RSC}), or a mixture of legumes, velvet bean and crotalaria ({RVC}). {R}ice growth, {N} content and yield, soil {N} content, weed biomass, nematofauna and macrofauna were assessed and a profitability analysis was performed at rotation scale. {T}he legume mixture had a significant and positive effect on rice growth, {N} content and yield, soil {N} content, and weed and nematode control due to high biomass production in the cropping cycle including legume mixture, by limiting weed growth and leaving a large quantity of {N}-rich residues to enrich the soil for the following rice crop. {T}he nematicide properties of the legume mixture may reduce the infestation of plant-feeding nematodes. {T}he {RG} and {RSC} rotations produced intermediate results. {W}hile rice yields were higher in these rotations than when rainfed rice was grown alone, weed biomass remained high due to minimal competition with weeds during the crop rotation cycle especially with groundnut. {F}or {RSC}, nematode control was limited as both sorghum and cowpea are host plants for nematodes. {D}espite a year with no crop income with the {RVC} rotation, profitability was higher mainly due to the increased rice yield and reduced field management costs. {T}he choice of species is thus crucial to optimise ecosystem functions adapted to farmers' context and objectives.},
  keywords = {{A}groecology ; {C}over crop ; {D}iversification ; {E}cological intensification ; {E}cosystem services ; {L}egume ; {R}otation ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}griculture {E}cosystems and {E}nvironment},
  volume = {320},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107576 [10 p.]},
  ISSN = {0167-8809},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agee.2021.107576},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082767},
}