Renowned University of Minnesota ecologist David Tilman - maintaining a high number of species helps plants grow faster and better - Biodiversity Research at Cedar Creek

Uploaded by UMNIonE on May 11, 2010

Renowned University of Minnesota ecologist David Tilman shares the inside story on his biodiversity experiment at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. Using prairie plants, Tilman showed that maintaining a high number of species helps plants grow faster and better.

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Proof!!! Polyculture Works Better - Switchgass growing with 16 other species  produces 238% more energy than switchgrass alone!  David Tilman has some real innovative ideas! 
He has ideas on using "polyculture landscapes" (IE permaculture design) to capture nutrient and chemical runoff from corn and soybean fields...
Well worth listening too...  Monte


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SFL ORG. News Center Prairie plants may also be good source of...
May 31, 2006 ... The adjacent plots, in clockwise rotation, are planted with eight species, four species and 16 species. Credit: David Tilman, UMN ...
www.sflorg.com/earthnews/en053106_02.html

Scientific Frontline® / Mixed Prairie Grasses Better Source of Biofuel ...
Dec 7, 2006 ... A new study led by David Tilman, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota, shows that mixtures of native perennial grasses and other ...
www.sflorg.com/earthnews/en120706_02.html