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Diversification of harvested and non-harvested species in agroecosystems has been linked to an increase in delivery of ecosystem services, reduced dependence on agrochemical treatments, and increased biodiversity more broadly. California is one of the most diverse and productive farming regions in the world, yet little is known about the socioecological drivers or impacts of this diverse agriculture. This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of agricultural diversity on California farmland from 2010 to 2020. We developed a novel index that combines landscape-scale spatial entropy with annual crop rotation to assess regional variations in agricultural diversity. Our findings indicate that the most diverse farmland is located in the most productive farmland in the state, driven by high-value crops and extensive irrigation systems. Agricultural diversity is positively correlated with agrochemical inputs and higher temperatures, which is contrary to agroecological principles, and negatively correlated with native species richness for all taxonomic groups except birds. Federal conservation incentive programs showed no significant impact on agricultural diversity. The study highlights the need for re-evaluating incentive programs to support sustainable agricultural practices that enhance biodiversity and reduce dependency on irrigation and agrochemicals. This research underscores the importance of targeted incentives and monitoring to promote multifunctionality and climate resilience in agroecosystems.
Lenhardt et al. (Mon,) studied this question.