Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Significance Identifying species assemblages that boost the provision of multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (multifunctionality) is crucial to undertake effective restoration actions aiming at promoting biodiversity and high multifunctionality in a changing world. By disentangling effect traits on litter decomposition experiment, we show it possible identify across mixtures originating from six biomes. We found higher evenness among dissimilar functional attributes rare as key enhance reduce abundance plant pathogens. Our study identifies those needed maximize limit disease risks natural managed ecosystems.