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Bioenergy, currently the largest renewable energy source in the EU (64% of the total renewable energy consumption), has sparked great interest to meet the 32% renewable resources for the 2030 bioeconomy goal. The design of innovative cropping systems informed by bioeconomy imperatives requires the evaluate of the effects of introducing crops for bioenergy into conventional crop rotations. This study aimed to assess the impacts of changes in conventional cropping systems in mixed dairy cattle farms redesigned to introduce bioenergy crops either by increasing the biomass production through an increase of cover crops, while keeping main feed/food crops, or by substituting food crops with an increase of the crop rotation length. The assessment is based on the comparison between conventional and innovative systems oriented to feed and biogas production, with and without tillage, to evaluate their agri-environmental performances (biomass production, nitrogen fertilization autonomy, greenhouse gas emissions and biogas production). The result showed higher values in the biogas cropping system than in the conventional and feed ones for all indicators, biomass productivity (27% and 20% higher, respectively), nitrogen fertilization autonomy (26% and 73% higher, respectively), methanogenic potential (77% and 41% higher, respectively) and greenhouse gas emissions (15% and 3% higher, respectively). There were no negative impacts of no-till compared to the tillage practice, for all tested variables. The biogas cropping system showed a better potential in terms of agri-environmental performance, although its greenhouse gas emissions were higher. Consequently, it would be appropriate to undertake a multicriteria assessment integrating agri-environmental, economic and social performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation by concentrated runoff and soil erosion induces major environmental and economic damages, notably in agricultural areas under temperate climates. The use of herbaceous vegetation aims to increase the hydraulic resistance and thus reduce runoff and soil erosion while retaining sediments on site. However, the identification of the most suitable species to mitigate runoff is often specific to a phytogeographical territory and hampered by the intraspecific variability, which reduces the transposition of a solution to other territories and the ability to quantify the effects of the vegetation. Using a plant trait‐based approach allows understanding and characterising the direct effects of the vegetation on runoff and soil erosion mitigation as well as on the sediment retention increase. Here, we review the influence of plant aboveground functional types and traits of herbaceous vegetation on the hydraulic resistance and sediment retention and the contentious effects of the functional diversity on the hydraulic resistance and sediment retention, within agricultural catchments. Using this knowledge, we propose applications of the trait‐based approach to design and manage herbaceous hedges for sediment retention and soil erosion control. This review synthesises recent advances regarding the effects of the functional traits on runoff and sediment retention and defines a trait‐based selection method of the plant species for runoff and soil erosion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]