Biodiversity Enhancement in Bioenergy Crop Systems

Bioenergy cropping systems, including short-rotation coppice and dedicated grasses such as switchgrass and miscanthus, offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels but have historically raised concerns over loss of habitat and species richness. Recent advances demonstrate that well-designed management practices can transform monocultures into multifunctional landscapes. Strategies such as intercropping, varied harvest rotations and reduced agrochemical inputs foster plant community complexity, support pollinator networks and bolster soil microbial diversity. Structural elements—hedgerows, field margins and flowering strips—serve as refugia for beneficial insects and ground-dwelling fauna, enhancing pest control and pollination services. Landscape-scale planning that integrates bioenergy plantations with semi-natural habitats further increases connectivity, enabling species dispersal and resilience in the face of climate change. Together, these approaches highlight pathways to reconcile biomass production with conservation goals, delivering carbon sequestration, water regulation and ecosystem services while maintaining agricultural livelihoods.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored the impact of intercropping fast-growing bioenergy trees with pollinator-friendly annuals. Trials pairing a high-value timber species with buckwheat revealed that intercropping maintained overall yield while increasing floral abundance and extending foraging periods for honeybees. Flower visitation rates were sustained without compromising biomass output, demonstrating a practical route to enrich pollinator resources within coppice systems. Further work has characterised root exudate profiles in energy grasses, identifying compounds that promote beneficial soil microbes and suppress pathogens, thereby linking below-ground biodiversity to crop health and productivity.

Biodiversity Enhancement in Bioenergy Crop Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biodiversity enhancement in bioenergy crop systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Short-rotation coppice: A bioenergy system in which fast-growing trees are harvested at short intervals (typically 2–5 years) for repeated biomass yields.

Intercropping: The simultaneous cultivation of two or more crop species in the same field to optimise resource use and diversify habitat structure.

Phytodiversity: The variety and relative abundance of plant species within a defined area or ecosystem.

Entomofauna: The assemblage of insect species inhabiting a particular habitat, often assessed for ecosystem service contributions such as pollination and pest control.

References

1. The impact of buckwheat and paulownia (Paulownia elongata × P. fortunei) intercropping on beekeeping value and buckwheat yield. Scientific Reports (2024).
2. Successional changes of phytodiversity on a short rotation coppice plantation in Oberschwaben, Germany. Frontiers in Plant Science (2015).
3. Ground Beetles (Carabidae) in the Short-Rotation Coppice Willow and Poplar Plants—Synergistic Benefits System. Agriculture (2020).