Increased crop diversity reduces the functional space available for weeds

Summary There is a drive to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems including the biodiversity component. Cultivar mixtures offer yield benefits from the same land area, but the mechanisms behind this overyielding have not been completely worked out. One potential mechanism is improved competition with weeds. We use an experimental approach of varying barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypic and phenotypic diversity to test the...