Why Polycultures? Science answers.

Science Daily has a writeup on a meta-study focused on biodiversity and ecosystem services which includes the following quote:

“…plant communities with many different species are nearly 1.5 times more productive than those with only one species (such as a cornfield or carefully tended lawn), and ongoing research finds even stronger benefits of diversity when the various other important natural services of ecosystems are considered. Diverse communities are also more efficient at capturing nutrients, light, and other limiting resources.”

If you’re interested in the paper itself, there is a reference to it in the science daily piece to which there is a link below.