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Unsprayed field margins: Effects on environment, biodiversity and agricultural practice
Abstract
A management strategy developed for field margins to reduce pesticide drift to non-target areas and to promote biodiversity on arable land was investigated. It involved not spraying herbicides and pesticides in a strip 3 or 6 m wide on the edges of winter wheat, sugar beet and potato crops. This strategy was compared with spraying the edges. The effects on pesticide drift, arable flora, invertebrates, vertebrates, costs and acceptance by the farmer were studied. This article reviews the most important results.Interviews with farmers showed that field margins were sprayed intensively. Drift measurements demonstrated that creating unsprayed buffer zones of 3 m width is a very effective way of reducing pesticide drift to the ditches demarcating the field (drift is reduced by about 95%) and risks to aquatic organisms. The presence and abundance of plants associated with arable farming increased substantially in the unsprayed edges, as did the floristic value of the vegetation. The impact on epigeic soil invertebrates was relatively minor. However, there was a pronounced effect on phytophage insects. The number of visits to the unsprayed edges by Motacilla flava flava, an insectivorous bird, also increased. A cost-benefit analysis based on the yield losses showed that it is very feasible to incorporate unsprayed crop edges in the cultivation of winter wheat and potatoes. In sugar beet, however, the cost is too high. However, for reasons to do with agronomy, farming equipment and socio-psychology, farmers will accept unsprayed cereal edges or grass strips but not unsprayed potato edges. From their perspective the most important aspect for acceptance in farming practice is a flexible width of the unsprayed crop edges.
... pour les effets), la dérive des pesticides 9 est un phénomène évitable, par exemple en modifiant le matériel (Felsot et al. , 2010) ou en utilisant des produits à formulation spécifique (Hilz & Vermeer, 2013). Par ailleurs, les "zones de non-traitement" sont une pratique efficace pour lutter contre cette dérive et réduire l'impact sur les abeilles (de Snoo, 1999;Dicks et al. , 2010). Traiter au moment où les abeilles ont le moins de chances de butiner (e.g. ...
... Nos résultats attestent que les agriculteurs averses au risque adventice présentent une moins grande acceptabilité des bandes fleuries (Figure I.10a). Les réticences associées aux bordures de champs non pulvérisées peuvent être aussi interprétées en termes d'aversion au risque adventice, car les agriculteurs craignent la propagation des mauvaises herbes et la baisse de la production (de Snoo, 1999). Par ailleurs, nous montrons que l'aversion au risque adventice est fortement corrélée à l'aversion au risque financier (test de Spearman, ρ = 0.52, p < .001), ...
... Pourtant, il a été montré que la réduction des coûts des intrants peut souvent compenser une baisse des rendements ; et dans le cas de la pollinisation voir . C'est le cas pour les zones de non-traitement, dont la perte de production qu'elles impliquent est compensée par les économies sur les intrants chimiques (de Snoo, 1999). ...
Alors que l’un des objectifs majeurs mis en avant par l’IPBES (2019) est celui de nourrir la planète tout en améliorant la santé globale des écosystèmes, l’agriculture intensive reste l’une des causes principales du déclin de la biodiversité, dont celui des pollinisateurs à l’échelle planétaire est emblématique. Les cultures pollinisées représentent près de 80% des espèces cultivées en Europe et jouent un rôle écologique et économique crucial dans les agroécosystèmes (Klein et al., 2007). Par conséquent, le déclin des pollinisateurs questionne les pratiques agricoles actuelles. L’objectif de la thèse est d’identifier et d’évaluer des solutions efficaces et durables pour assurer la fourniture du service de pollinisation dans les agroécosystèmes intensifs. Jusqu’à présent, les recherches menées pour enrayer le déclin des pollinisateurs se sont focalisées sur plusieurs réponses techniques, mais en ignorant les préférences des agriculteurs ou des apiculteurs. Dans un premier temps, nous identifions les leviers techniques les plus efficaces pour augmenter la magnitude du service de pollinisation, puis nous analysons les préférences des agents à leur propos. Dans un deuxième temps, nous évaluons certains leviers bioéconomiques (i.e. en combinant l'adoption d'une pratique avec une motivation socio-économique) d'un point de vue économique mais aussi écologique. Pour cela, nous mobilisons des concepts et théories de plusieurs champs disciplinaires, principalement de l’économie et de la psychologie, ainsi que des approches de modélisation bioéconomique et d’économétrie. Nous nous focalisons sur le cas d'étude de la Zone Atelier "Plaine & Val de Sèvre" (Deux-Sèvres, France), un agroécosystème intensif Ouest-Européen typique, que nous utilisons pour la calibration des modèles. Pour l'identification des préférences nous utilisons deux jeux de données issues d'enquêtes auprès d'agriculteurs: un réalisé sur la Zone Atelier, et un réalisé en ligne à l'échelle de la France. Nos résultats montrent que les leviers présentent une grande acceptabilité parmi les agriculteurs, mais qu'ils sont peu adoptés. Les leviers les plus efficaces sont souvent les moins adoptés. Cette adoption est influencée par les coûts, mais aussi par les préférences face au risque ou d'autres facteurs comportementaux. Nous simulons dans un premier temps, grâce à un modèle bioéconomique, un levier prometteur: celui de stimuler la pollinisation domestique en incitant les agents par des systèmes de taxes-subventions. Cependant, nous montrons que, bien que privilégier les abeilles domestiques et l'apiculture soit économiquement performant, les performances environnementales sont faibles du fait que ce système soit compatible avec l'agriculture intensive. Connaissant les préférences des agents, nous simulons l'adoption de bandes fleuries (le levier agricole le plus efficace) qui permet à la fois d'augmenter la pollinisation, mais aussi de stabiliser les rendements par le phénomène d'"assurance naturelle". Cependant, nous montrons que leur adoption est chère par rapport au maintien de la pollinisation par les abeilles domestiques, et à la contractualisation d'une assurance agricole. Enfin, nous établissons une théorie des politiques optimales soutenant les services écosystémiques et prenant en compte la dimension comportementale. Nous montrons que celles-ci pourraient augmenter l'adoption de pratiques et ainsi être plus efficientes que des politiques de soutien financier "classiques". Cette thèse contribue, par une approche interdisciplinaire entre économie agricole, comportementale et écologie, au débat actuel sur les moyens d'augmenter la pollinisation dans les agroécosystèmes,et plus globalement sur la multifonctionnalité de l’agriculture.
... Enfin, la biodiversité des invertébrés est largement bénéficiaire de ces habitats, et cela concerne les populations de vers de terre (Lumbricidae) (Lagerlöf et al., 2002), de gastéropodes (Gastropodae) (Dedov et al., 2006), d'araignées (Aranae) (Lemke & Poehling, 2002), et d'insectes (Colignon et al., 2002;de Snoo, 1999;Jacot et al., 2006;Marshall et al., 2006;Meek et al., 2002;Mignon et al., 2003;Pywell et al., 2006;Schmidt et al., 2005). La diversité spécifique et l'abondance des insectes sont jusqu'à six fois plus importantes dans les bordures de parcelles aménagées comparé aux champs cultivés (de Snoo, 1999). ...
... Enfin, la biodiversité des invertébrés est largement bénéficiaire de ces habitats, et cela concerne les populations de vers de terre (Lumbricidae) (Lagerlöf et al., 2002), de gastéropodes (Gastropodae) (Dedov et al., 2006), d'araignées (Aranae) (Lemke & Poehling, 2002), et d'insectes (Colignon et al., 2002;de Snoo, 1999;Jacot et al., 2006;Marshall et al., 2006;Meek et al., 2002;Mignon et al., 2003;Pywell et al., 2006;Schmidt et al., 2005). La diversité spécifique et l'abondance des insectes sont jusqu'à six fois plus importantes dans les bordures de parcelles aménagées comparé aux champs cultivés (de Snoo, 1999). Les habitats semi-naturels non perturbés en bordures de champs ayant fait l'objet d'un aménagement jouent un rôle clé en tant qu'apport alimentaire complémentaire pour de nombreux arthropodes. ...
Establishing and maintaining semi-natural habitats in agricultural landscapes is encouraged by the European Union through the agri-environment schemes. Their main target is to reduce environmental risks associated with modern farming and preserve nature and cultivated landscapes. Potentially, these habitats could be improved to provide other ecosystem services such as pollination and biological control. Their vegetation and their structure affect their ability to support natural enemies but few studies have compared their contribution to conservation biocontrol. Among semi-natural habitats, biological control by flower strips could be improved by selection of seed mixes. The effect of functional diversity of flowers in seeds mixes will be assessed.
In Gembloux (Belgium), wildflower strips, composed of five functionally diverse mixtures were sown within a field with a forest edge. Aphids, their predators (lacewings, ladybirds and hoverflies) and aphid parasitism have been monitored. Aphids were more abundant in crops compared to flowers, and the type of natural habitat nearby did not influence their abundance. Natural enemies have not been influenced by the functional diversity of flower mixtures but by the type of semi-natural habitat nearby. This study shows that the abundance of natural enemies in agricultural areas can be enhanced by the management of semi-natural habitats. By improving the ability of habitats to promote the abundance of natural enemies, farmers may potentially reduce their dependence on insecticides.
... The use of margins, whether natural or implemented, based on seed mixtures of autochthonous species, appears to function as ecological corridors, linking isolated habitat patches and reducing landscape fragmentation [18,19]. Moreover, increasing the abundance of wildflowers, insects, and birds has been highlighted as an important way of promoting ecosystem services and supporting biodiversity conservation [20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. ...
The intensification of agriculture over the past 80 years has led to significant changes in farm management, resulting in the creation of large-scale fields and the elimination of ecological structural elements. The loss of these areas has dramatically affected natural communities. This study aimed to test whether the implementation of floral margins generates significant differences in insect abundance over time. The study was carried out on an intensive vegetable farm in Spain over a ten-year period (2013–2022) where a floral margin was sown and maintained over the years. The results showed a clear linear increase in insect individuals, with a total increase of 403.33% from 2013 to 2022. The number of species increased by 138.80% overall, with most growth occurring in the first three years before stabilising (0.63% increase from 2016 to 2022). The analysis of community structure demonstrates a gradual evolution in the insect population dynamics aligned significantly with both log-series and log-normal distributions (p-value > 0.05). This long-term study demonstrates that floral margins are an essential tool for fostering insect biodiversity in intensive agricultural areas. The steady, rather than abrupt, shift in the ecosystem suggests that sustained implementation of floral margins can effectively prevent or reverse insect decline over time.
... This concern and the associated reticence to leave 403 field margins unsprayed can be interpreted in a similar way. Even if this practice does not 404 incur extra costs (the additional costs, such as loss of production, are hedged by pesticide 405 cost savings), farmers are apprehensive that weeds will spread and potentially lead to 406 lower yields (deSnoo 1999).407 The acceptability measured here reflects the situation in 2011 in the study area. ...
There is limited knowledge on why farmers adopt pollinator-supporting practices, which is crucial to stimulate their adoption. The dependence of farmers on pollination may influence their perception of pollinators and their willingness to adopt these practices. We addressed why farmers adopt pollinator-supporting practices using a 2011 survey conducted within a cereal plain in western France, where farmers were moderately dependent on pollination for crops like oilseed rape and sunflower. We assessed the factors influencing the adoption of practices to promote pollination, including pollination dependence. We found no effect for pollination dependence. Conversely, we found that farm size, pesticide use, advisory services and the perception of costs decreased the willingness to adopt, while older farmers were more incline to adopt. We also evaluated perceptions related to pollinators: more than 85% of farmers considered bees important for crop production and recognized pesticides as a major cause of decline. We found no effect of pollination dependence on farmers’ perceptions. Compared to similar studies over the past decade, we found similarities, particularly regarding pollinator-related perceptions. Finally, we compared the willingness to adopt in 2011 with the actual adoption in 2024, showing that there has been little change. This raises questions on the pathways to promote the adoption of pollinator-supporting practices to ensure for the future of pollinator conservation.
... Siehe z. B.Basedow et al. 1976, Poehling & Dehne 1984& 1986, Poehling 1986, Poehling et al. 1985, Rands 1985& 1986, Basedow 1987, Lübke-Al Hussein & Wetzel 1993, Niehoff et al. 1994, Moreby et al. 1997, Kreuter 1998& 2002, de Snoo 1999, Volkmar et al. 1999, Wick und Freier 2000, Lee et al. 2001, Benton et al. 2002, Mäder et al. 2002, Carr et al. 2003, Wetzel 2004, Hayes et al. 2005, Alston et al. 2007, Schumacher und Freier 2008, Mann et al. 2009, Geiger et al. 2010, Zaller et al. 2014, Pisa et al. 2015, Straub et al. 2016, Münze et al. 2017, Schütte et al. 2017 und viele weitere Studien in den folgenden Kapiteln 49Wilson et al. 1999, Brickle et al. 2000, Benton et al. 2002, Morris et al. 2005, Biesmeijer et al. 2006, Vickery et al. 2009, Parfitt et al. 2010, Sánchez-Moreno et al. 2014, Gaupp-Berghausen et al. 2015, Motta et al. 2018 50 Brühl et al. 2015 ...
The Scientific Advisory Board of the National Action Plan on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (NAP) advises the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). It has commented on the effects of plant protection on biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems.
The decline in biodiversity in the agricultural landscape is striking. Butterfly and bird populations have declined by 50 % since 1990 and 1980 respectively, and the biomass of flying insects has fallen by 75 % since 1989. Species and individual numbers of arable wild herbs, amphibians, fish, sensitive invertebrates in water bodies, wild bees, hoverflies, ground beetles, ladybirds and many other groups of organisms are declining. Of the 14 open land biotope types directly dependent on utilisation, 80 % are endangered in Germany. Other habitats (moors, forest and riparian fringes, herbaceous meadows, etc.) are impaired by agricultural use in the surrounding area.
The direct and indirect effects of plant protection products are documented by a large number of scientific studies in Germany and other European countries. The use of plant protection products (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides) represents a significant influencing factor in the complex overall system of factors with mostly significantly negative, but in exceptional cases also positive effects on biodiversity in agroecosystems. Plant protection products get into and onto plants, animals and soils, into the atmosphere and into water bodies and groundwater; they develop their harmful side effects in both short and very long periods of time. They can cause direct toxic effects on non-target organisms and indirectly reduce the food and habitats of a large number of organisms. In addition, there are cumulative and sequential effects, as plant protection products are often applied together 4 and a combined effect of environmental stressors and plant protection products becomes particularly relevant when applied in the field.
The NAP Scientific Advisory Council therefore proposes the following measures for sustainable plant protection:
1. the further development of biodiversity should be assessed in a standardised way by introducing a representative, comprehensive long-term biodiversity monitoring system that focuses on the effects of plant protection products.
2. the authorisation procedure for plant protection products should be reviewed for possible gaps in the assessment of effects on biodiversity on the basis of the latest knowledge, and these findings should be incorporated into the amendment of European authorisation law.
3. positive and negative incentives should be created for agricultural practice in order to reduce the use of plant protection products in practice. To this end, a levy on plant protection products should also be examined and, in the medium term, a scientifically based system of internalising environmental costs (true cost accounting) should be proposed.
4. integrated plant protection methods should be further strengthened through research and advice, and breeding should focus on pest-tolerant or pest-resistant varieties.
5. the framework conditions for organic farming should be further improved in order to achieve the Federal Government's goal of increasing its share of land to 20 % as quickly as possible.
6. within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the agri-environmental measures (EAFRD), diverse landscape elements, habitats and preferred ecological areas and buffer zones integrated into the production area should be promoted to a much greater extent than before.
... Moreover, these habitats may act as dispersal corridors for beneficial insects that connect species-rich ecosystems with low diversity farmland (Hossain et al., 2002;Nilsson et al., 2016;Martin et al 2019). In addition, the presence of shelters within the crop reduces natural enemy mortality caused by tillage, harvesting processes and chemical control treatments (De Snoo, 1999;Marshall 2002). In contrast with open field crops, the use of green shelters in greenhouse crops is still an uncommon practice because sacrificing valuable cropping areas for this purpose is not usually feasible (Messelink et al., 2014). ...
The success of biological control programmes often depends on establishment of natural enemies in or around the crop. An emerging strategy that aims to improve establishment is through the provision of niches that act as shelters. These shelters can enhance the natural enemies’ effectiveness by providing: a suitable microclimate; protection against other predators or pesticides; and/or alternative food. Generally, shelters are natural habitats such as flower strips, intercropped areas, hedgerows, or banker plants. The use of artificial devices as shelters remains underexplored. In this study we assessed the functionality of an artificial shelter for the aphidophagous predator, Scymnus interruptus Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). A tailor-made artificial shelter for oviposition was developed and tested in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that S. interruptus females strongly preferred to use the shelters as an oviposition site compared with sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaf discs supporting the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), its primary prey. Furthermore, S. interruptus oviposition rate was doubled when shelters were supplied. In a greenhouse experiment, population densities of S. interruptus larvae increased twofold when shelters were provided, although this did not result in better control of aphids. Additionally, providing artificial shelters in a sweet pepper crop has potential to enhance aphid control and could also be a valuable method for monitoring predator densities in the crop.
... The value of such services is estimated at USD 235-577 billion per year the world over [28]. For this reason, over the past 40 years, several studies have tried to investigate the causes behind declining insect populations and proposed measures to protect and enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Most commonly, these studies focused on implementing hedgerows, field margins, floral margins, or flower and herb strips, which provide significant biodiversity benefits within farmed landscapes. ...
Starting in the 1950s, agricultural production has been remarkably intensified, resulting in
modern management systems where a severe increase in field size led to an elimination of edges and other ecologically valuable structural elements. The resulting habitat loss caused dramatic changes in natural communities. The aim of this work is to test whether there are statistically significant differences in insect abundance over time by using multifunctional margins that are seed mixtures of autochthonous species planted in combined strips, which are the fastest way to provide significant biodiversity benefits within farmed landscapes, enhancing the diversity and abundance of insects, birds, and small mammals, offering resources and reservoirs. This study was carried out in three intensive fruit farms in Spain over a three-year period (2013–2015). Each field was divided into two zones: the margin where a multifunctional margin was planted, and another that remained unchanged in the field. A clear trend to increase RTE species throughout the years in all farms was observed. Moreover, the margin showed a significant difference with respect to the field in the average number of insect species and individuals. The use of margins improves the appearance of
RTE species in mean percentages ranging between 12.06 and 25.26% according to the sampling area. Margins also favour the increase in species (148.83–232.84%) and individuals (207.24–586.70%) in agricultural landscapes. These results clearly show that margins are an essential tool to fight insect decline in intensive farming areas.
... The value of such services is estimated at USD 235-577 billion per year the world over [28]. For this reason, over the past 40 years, several studies have tried to investigate the causes behind declining insect populations and proposed measures to protect and enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Most commonly, these studies focused on implementing hedgerows, field margins, floral margins, or flower and herb strips, which provide significant biodiversity benefits within farmed landscapes. ...
Starting in the 1950s, agricultural production has been remarkably intensified, resulting in modern management systems where a severe increase in field size led to an elimination of edges and other ecologically valuable structural elements. The resulting habitat loss caused dramatic changes in natural communities. The aim of this work is to test whether there are statistically significant differences in insect abundance over time by using multifunctional margins that are seed mixtures of autochthonous species planted in combined strips, which are the fastest way to provide significant biodiversity benefits within farmed landscapes, enhancing the diversity and abundance of insects, birds, and small mammals, offering resources and reservoirs. This study was carried out in three intensive fruit farms in Spain over a three-year period (2013–2015). Each field was divided into two zones: the margin where a multifunctional margin was planted, and another that remained unchanged in the field. A clear trend to increase RTE species throughout the years in all farms was observed. Moreover, the margin showed a significant difference with respect to the field in the average number of insect species and individuals. The use of margins improves the appearance of RTE species in mean percentages ranging between 12.06 and 25.26% according to the sampling area. Margins also favour the increase in species (148.83–232.84%) and individuals (207.24–586.70%) in agricultural landscapes. These results clearly show that margins are an essential tool to fight insect decline in intensive farming areas.
... However, aquatic ecosystems and susceptible crops in nearby land can be affected as well, so the adoption of buffer zones around the crops can substantially mitigate the drift onto surrounding areas. For example, unsprayed strips 3 m wide around agricultural fields in the Netherlands reduced drift onto irrigation ditches by 95% [14]. Under present management practices in that country using narrow unsprayed buffer zones and other measures, the impact of sprays on non-target insects are down to 41% for herbicides, 21% for insecticides and 14% for fungicides compared to impacts in the past [15]. ...
Pesticides are toxic chemicals used to control pests, weeds and pathogens. Three quarters of all pesticides are employed in agricultural production, particularly in developed countries, in an effort to mitigate crop damage endured by intensive agriculture. However, after more than 60 years of worldwide usage, their side-effects on terrestrial ecosystems – even when applied as recommended – are obvious. This chapter examines the ecological problems caused by specific chemicals/groups, so that this awareness may help improve agricultural practices through appropriate risk management. Fungicides alter the microbial-fungi communities responsible for the recycling of nutrients in the soil, and copper fungicides are toxic to earthworms and other animals. The routine application of herbicides has produced a net loss of plant biomass and biodiversity in many landscapes, which indirectly reduces the associated arthropod communities and leads to population declines in many species of birds, and possibly amphibians too, due to lack of food. Insecticides are very toxic to most invertebrates in the soil, birds and small mammals, causing significant reductions in their populations and disturbing the trophic structure of their communities. Persistent pesticides accumulate in soil and concentrate through the trophic chain, causing a plethora of sublethal effects which are negative for the survival of individuals as well as the viability of their populations; the long term effects of DDT and cyclodiene poisoning in birds is still an ecological issue despite more than 30 years of not being applied in most developed countries. While pesticides have increased our agricultural productivity and helped feed the current human population, the price of this productivity is being paid by the Earth's ecosystems at large.
... Over the last decades, several options were considered to reverse the situation. The use of multifunctional margins to increase the abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds has been highlighted as an important way of promoting nature conservation [3,5,[26][27][28][29][30]. However, most of these studies are based on the study of bees or bumble bees [10,22,[31][32][33][34], and only a few included all the insect groups [13,35]. ...
(1) Modern, intensive agricultural practices have been attributed to the loss of insect biodiversity and abundance in agroecosystems for the last 80 years. The aim of this work is to test whether there are statistically significant differences in insect abundance between different zones and over time on the vineyard field. (2) The study was carried out in five intensive wine farms in Spain over a three-year period (2013-2015). Each field was divided into two zones, one where cover plants were planted, and another remained unchanged (without cover). (3) A clear trend to increase the average number of insect species and individuals throughout the years in all farms was observed. Moreover, the zones with cover plants showed a significant difference with respect to the zones without. (4) The use of permanent cover plants allows to create areas of refuge for the insects favouring their conservation and reducing the agriculture impact in the insect decline.
... Over the last decades, several options were considered to reverse the situation. The use of multifunctional margins to increase the abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds has been highlighted as an important way of promoting nature conservation [3,5,[26][27][28][29][30]. However, most of these studies are based on the study of bees or bumble bees [10,22,[31][32][33][34], and only a few included all the insect groups [13,35]. ...
Simple Summary
The continuous intensification of agricultural production has resulted in higher yields and more yield security. However, these achievements went along with the substitution of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes by homogeneous ones with poor crop diversity, short crop rotations, and thanks to the high efficacy of modern herbicides and also to minimum in-crop diversity. A severe increase in plot size led to the elimination of ecologically valuable structural elements that had provided floral resources and nesting sites. Over the few last decades, several studies have been conducted to try to find solutions against insect decline and to preserve biodiversity. In the present study, the integration of cover plants between the lines of the vineyards to enhance biodiversity is shown. The benefits of the cover plants use are presented based on the results achieved on five intensive wine farms in Spain. Our findings suggest that the use of cover plants provide a wide range of enhancements in the insect community with a significant increase both in the number of species and the number of individuals showing an important influence over time, which would tend to have a significant conservation impact thanks to its effect as a reservoir of species.
Abstract
(1) Modern, intensive agricultural practices have been attributed to the loss of insect biodiversity and abundance in agroecosystems for the last 80 years. The aim of this work is to test whether there are statistically significant differences in insect abundance between different zones and over time on the vineyard field. (2) The study was carried out in five intensive wine farms in Spain over a three-year period (2013–2015). Each field was divided into two zones, one where cover plants were planted, and another remained unchanged (without cover). (3) A clear trend to increase the average number of insect species and individuals throughout the years in all farms was observed. Moreover, the zones with cover plants showed a significant difference with respect to the zones without. (4) The use of permanent cover plants allows creating areas of refuge for the insects favouring their conservation and reducing the agriculture impact in the insect decline.
... Unsprayed field edges have been found to have positive effects on the presence and diversity of plant species and therewith on small mammal abundance. 85 Brown hares inhabiting agricultural landscapes need species-rich field margins with herbal undergrowth because the diet offered by large crops is too one-sided due to the rapid decline of herbs on arable land, which is derived from the application of herbicides (and fertilizer). The application of 2,4-D reduced foliar cover by forbs and shrubs and thus the diet of prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). ...
Indirect effects of herbicides can have severe consequences on organisms and ecosystem functioning. Spray drift and erosion by wind and water distribute herbicides widely in noncrop areas, and effects on biodiversity and food web interactions trigger further ecosystem changes. An increasing body of evidence deals with herbicide effects on crop diseases and their influence on natural biocontrol processes. Interactions of herbicide effects with climatic factors and other environmental stresses are increasingly important. There is a knowledge gap in assessing the exposure and effect situation under real-world conditions of delayed consequences of previous herbicide applications, multiple applications, and interactions with other pesticide classes within a season and long term. Often, herbicide impacts cannot be separated from confounding with soil management practices such as tillage and crop rotation. The sheer number of available herbicide formulations and mixtures, and inadequate information on their ingredients, make an analysis of environmental effects difficult.
... Despite this loss, agriculture and biodiversity have a direct connection that provides additional values (Erisman et al., 2016). The use of hedges or field margins in the landscape create a specific habitat for insects, birds, plants and other animals (Schumacher, 1984;De Snoo, 1999;Marshall & Moonen, 2002;Jacot et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). This fauna have a high nature value because it can support agricultural production, e.g. through the attraction of pollinating insects or beneficials that can regulate pest populations (Brussaard et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). ...
The present study analyses the effects of multifunctional areas
(MA) for three years (2013–2015) on an intensive multi-crop farm in Portugal. The implementation of MA resulted in a wide range of enhancements in the insect community, such as significant effects as a reservoir, allowing an increase of 102.47% in the number of species and 97.64% of individuals. MA play an important role in conservation strategies and help increase the population of rare and threatened arthropod species.
... Despite this loss, agriculture and biodiversity have a direct connection that provides additional values (Erisman et al., 2016). The use of hedges or field margins in the landscape create a specific habitat for insects, birds, plants and other animals (Schumacher, 1984;De Snoo, 1999;Marshall & Moonen, 2002;Jacot et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). This fauna have a high nature value because it can support agricultural production, e.g. through the attraction of pollinating insects or beneficials that can regulate pest populations (Brussaard et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). ...
The present study analyses the effects of multifunctional areas (MA) for three years (2013-2015) on an intensive multi-crop farm in Portugal. The implementation of MA resulted in a wide range of enhancements in the insect community, such as significant effects as a reservoir, allowing an increase of 102.47% in the number of species and 97.64% of individuals. MA play an important role in conservation strategies and help increase the population of rare and threatened arthropod species.
... Two thirds of the agrochemical evidence focused on insecticides, with 81% reporting negative impacts (Table C). Evidence established decreases in bee [148,155], honeybee [155], butterfly [156][157][158], hoverfly [155] and mixed pollinator [69,[159][160][161] abundance, richness or density with insecticide use, but also reported a range of sub-lethal or lethal effects on pollinators. Impacts on pollinator reproduction included reduced colony growth in bumblebees [69,77,162] reduced nesting in solitary bees [69] and honeybee colony losses across England and Wales [163]. ...
Renewable power capacity is increasing globally in response to energy decarbonisation, with solar photovoltaic (PV) projected to be the dominant renewable. A significant proportion of solar PV is deployed as ground-mounted solar parks with potential implications for the hosting ecosystem. Given their relatively rapid introduction, the impacts on land use and the local environment are poorly understood. However, if deployed and managed strategically, solar parks could offer unique opportunities to enhance the local environment and benefit biodiversity, with implications for ecosystem components such as pollinators. With a focus on north-west Europe, we systematically review the available evidence on how land management practices relevant to solar parks can enhance pollinator biodiversity. We assessed 185 articles for the quantity and agreement of evidence for 27 management interventions and assigned a confidence score to each finding. We show that a range of interventions applied to solar parks could increase their ability to enhance pollinator biodiversity. We then use our assessment to synthesise ten evidence-based recommendations on how to improve solar park management for pollinators by providing foraging and reproductive resources, undergoing considered management practices, increasing landscape heterogeneity and connectivity and providing microclimatic variation. Ensuring beneficial management of rapidly growing solar parks contributes to their wider environmental sustainability, with positive implications for both pollinator conservation and the energy sector in general.
... Despite this loss, agriculture and biodiversity have a direct connection that provides additional values (Erisman et al., 2016). The use of hedges or field margins in the landscape create a specific habitat for insects, birds, plants and other animals (Schumacher, 1984;De Snoo, 1999;Marshall & Moonen, 2002;Jacot et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). This fauna have a high nature value because it can support agricultural production, e.g. through the attraction of pollinating insects or beneficials that can regulate pest populations (Brussaard et al., 2007;Smith et al., 2008;Haddaway et al., 2016;Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). ...
The present study analyses the effects of multifunctional areas (MA) for three years (2013-2015) on an intensive multi-crop farm in Portugal. The implementation of MA resulted in a wide range of enhancements in the insect community, such as significant effects as a reservoir, allowing an increase of 102.47% in the number of species and 97.64% of individuals. MA play an important role in conservation strategies and help increase the population of rare and threatened arthropod species.
... La fréquence des traitements n'a pas augmenté mais les modifications répétées de la structure de la végétation qu'ils causent ont peut-être été défavorables aux espèces de taille moyenne. Cela pourrait en partie expliquer la diminution de l'activité-densité de ces espèces dans le réseau C. Cependant, ce résultat est difficile à interpréter car les résultats des précédentes études de l'effet des pesticides sur les carabes sont assez contradictoires (Alignier et Aviron, in press;Flohre et al., 2011;Frampton et Dorne, 2007;de Snoo, 1999). ...
Les paysages bocagers se caractérisent par une hétérogénéité spatio-temporelle liée aux choix de production et de gestion des bordures de parcelles faits par les agriculteurs. L’évolution des paysages agricoles et la dynamique pluriannuelle des assemblages d’espèces sont rarement étudiées simultanément. J’ai émis l’hypothèse que la simplification du paysage et la moindre gestion des bordures avaient homogénéisé les assemblages d’espèces. Des carabes ont été piégés entre 2007 et 2015 au sein de 30 bordures de parcelles situées dans trois secteurs de la Zone Atelier Armorique à densité bocagère contrastée. Les pratiques de gestion des bordures et l’occupation du sol de la zone d’étude étaient connues chaque année. J’ai mesuré l’hétérogénéité et les trajectoires d’évolution des bordures en termes de gestion et de paysage dans leurs alentours. En parallèle, j’ai étudié l’évolution au cours du temps de l’activité-densité, de la richesse spécifique et de la similarité de composition des assemblages. Enfin, j’ai cherché un lien entre les tendances observées. Les surfaces de prairies ont diminué au cours du temps mais cette tendance n’est pas généralisable à tous les secteurs. De plus, les différences entre les contextes paysagers dans lesquels se trouvent les bordures se sont amplifiées au cours du temps. La gestion des bordures a quant à elle peu évolué. La richesse spécifique et l’activité-densité ont diminué dans les paysages qui se sont le plus modifiés. Là où l’hétérogénéité du paysage a augmenté, les différences de composition spécifique entre les différentes bordures ont également augmenté. Néanmoins, les espèces de carabes répondent à l’évolution du paysage et de sa gestion de façon différente selon leur taille, le secteur et l’échelle à laquelle le paysage est décrit. Le suivi écologique à long terme apparaît donc essentiel à la compréhension de la dynamique des espèces dans les paysages agricoles.
... Insecticides reduce insect populations in a field and possibly the endophytic inoculum in the plant due to fewer fungal-infected hosts. This may be important for the dissemination of entomopathogenic fungal inoculum between the soil and the phyllosphere [14,[55][56][57][58]. However, several other factors that are known to influence the natural occurrence and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in agroecosystems could also have an impact on the present results [5,[14][15][16][59][60][61][62], although these factors were not considered in the present study. ...
Simple Summary
Sugarcane, an important cash crop in Malawi, is susceptible to numerous insect pests, and many farmers rely heavily on chemical insecticides for their control. Biopesticides containing insect pathogens are used in several countries outside Malawi; however, the occurrence and use of insect pathogens is limited in Malawi. In this study, we evaluated the natural occurrence of insect pathogenic fungi in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and in soil samples from sugarcane fields in Chikwawa District, southern Malawi. Insect pathogenic fungi from soil were isolated by baiting using larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella). Insect pathogenic fungi were also isolated from surface-sterilized sugarcane leaves, stems, and roots. We found three types of insect pathogenic fungi: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium spp., and Isaria spp. Beauveria bassiana and Isaria spp. were found mostly from sugarcane leaves and stems, while Metarhizium spp. was mainly found in soils. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. bassiana and Isaria spp. occurring naturally as endophytes in sugarcane. Further, it is the first report of B. bassiana, Isaria spp. and Metarhizium spp. in the soil of sugarcane fields in Africa.
Abstract
The natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungal endophytes in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and in soil samples from sugarcane fields was evaluated in Chikwawa District, southern Malawi. Fungi from soil were isolated by baiting using Galleria mellonella larva. Fungal endophytes were isolated from surface-sterilized plant tissue sections. Forty-seven isolates resembled the genus Beauveria, 9 isolates were Metarhizium, and 20 isolates were Isaria. There was no significant difference in the number and type of fungal isolates collected from soil and from plant tissue. There was, however, a significant difference in the part of the plant where fungal species were isolated, which fungal species were isolated, and the number of fungal species isolated at each location. Phylogenetic analysis of 47 Beauveria isolates based on DNA sequencing of the Bloc intergenic region indicated that these isolates all belonged to B. bassiana and aligned with sequences of B. bassiana isolates of African and Neotropical origin. The Malawian B. bassiana isolates formed a distinct clade. No larvae died from infestation by multiple fungi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. bassiana and Isaria spp. occurring naturally as endophytes in sugarcane. Further, it is the first report of B. bassiana, Isaria spp., and Metarhizium spp. in the soil of sugarcane fields in Africa.
... From cultural control point of view, this data suggests that cotton should be isolated to possible extent possible from other crops, which may harbor these bugs. Row orientation can affect RCBs movement [49,50] and oviposition. The strong effect of field border in the current study is in line with the earlier studies [51]. ...
Red cotton bugs [Dysdercus spp. (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae] are among the most destructive pests of cotton and many other crops. Red cotton bugs (RCBs hereafter) damage cotton plants by sucking sap and deteriorate lint by staining. The incidence of RCBs causes boll injury along the field margins neighboring with various peripheral areas. The adjacent habitat/crops strongly mediate the population dynamics of RCBs. However, limited is known about the impact of adjacent habitat on population dynamics of RCBs and lint quality. This two-year field study evaluated the impact of adjacent habitat (okra, unpaved road, water channel and Eucalyptus trees) on population dynamics of RCBs and lint quality of cotton. The RCBs were sampled weekly from margins to 4 meter inside the cotton field. The RCBs’ populations were monitored and plucked cotton bolls were examined for internal damage. The highest incidence of RCBs was recorded for cotton field adjacent to okra and water channel. Similarly, the highest number of damaged bolls were observed for the field side neighboring with okra and water channel. Furthermore, the highest number of unopened bolls were recorded for okra and water channel sides with higher percentage of yellowish lint. Field sides bordering with Eucalyptus trees and unpaved road had lower RCBs incidence and lint staining. Nonetheless, RCBs incidence was higher at field margins compared to field center indicating that population was strongly affected by adjacent habitat. It is concluded that sowing okra and weedy water channels adjacent to cotton would support RCBs population and subsequent lint staining. Therefore, water channels must be kept weed-free and okra should not be sown adjacent to cotton. Nonetheless, detailed studies are needed to compute monetary damages caused by cotton pests to the crop. Furthermore, effective management strategies must be developed to manage RCBs in cotton to avoid lint-staining problem.
... These activities can influence landscape composition and structure (Benton et al., 2003), and include the clearance of woodlands or edge vegetation (e.g., hedgerows, shelterbelts, riparian areas) to enlarge fields (Flinn et al., 2005) or to remove (sometimes alleged) crop pests and pathogens (Karp et al., 2016). Some farming practices, such as pesticide use, impact the flora and fauna of local agricultural fields, as well as adjacent hedgerows and field margins through spray-drift (Boutin et al., 2014;de Jong et al., 2008;de Snoo, 1999;Freemark and Boutin, 1995). A farmland bird indicator would therefore be an accessible and sensitive tool to monitor the outcomes of management strategies aimed at reducing or mitigating the detrimental impacts of these agricultural activities. ...
Although farmland birds are used extensively in Europe as an indicator group to assess agricultural impacts on ecosystems, no such group has been formally identified in North America. Here we present a hierarchical framework to identify a suite of farmland bird species in Ontario, Canada by consolidating and validating classifications derived from literature review and empirical modelling. First, we reviewed literature to compile candidate farmland bird species in Ontario and assigned species to four guilds (row crop specialists, pasture specialists, farmstead specialists, and farmland edge generalists). Second, we used regression trees (RTs) to test whether these species could be classified into the same literature-based guilds or different guilds, based on modelled relationships between breeding bird atlas abundance data and Census of Agriculture statistics. We consolidated both classifications using a decision tree into a final list of 45 farmland bird species, comprising 11 farmstead specialists, 13 pasture specialists, 5 row crop specialists, 12 farmland edge generalists, and 4 farmland generalists flagged for classification uncertainty. To validate the distinctness of the assigned farmland bird guilds, we used pairwise permANOVA to test for differences in species composition among guilds, based on 34 species with sufficient occurrence data. We found significant compositional differences between almost all guilds, except for the farmstead specialist and row crop specialist guilds which could not be differentiated. We also validated species’ guild assignments using canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) to group 35 species according to ecological resemblance which were then compared to our proposed guild classifications. CAP validated guild assignments for 78.2% of the evaluated farmland specialists, particularly for farmstead specialists and pasture specialists, while 50% of evaluated farmland edge generalists were grouped differently than our final classification. Each final classification was associated with low, moderate, or high uncertainty according to concordance between classification methods and support from CAP groupings to highlight species with uncertainly assigned guilds. For some such species, mismatches between their literature-based and empirically-derived classifications might be due to the predictor variables being measured at too large a scale to reflect associations between their abundance distributions and agricultural landscape characteristics. We recommend that these farmland bird species be further verified using statistical models of bird count data, satellite imagery, and climate variables, and a trait-based approach to bolster confidence in the proposed list. When confirmed and expanded, this list can be used to inform a farmland bird indicator to monitor agroecosystem health in Ontario, and perhaps elsewhere in eastern North America.
... de de Wit (1998) andde Snoo (1999) demonstrated that the creation of a 3 m wide buffer strip (an unsprayed crop edge or conservation headland) reduced pesticide drift into the adjacent ditch by 95% at wind speeds of 4.5 m/s; with 6 m wide buffer strips, no drift could be measured in the ditch. Marrs et al. (1989) found that the maximum safe distance at which no lethal effects from herbicides were found was 6 m from a tractor-mounted sprayer, but for most herbicides 2 m wide strips were sufficient. ...
... horticultural land) and set-aside (CS 2007). By providing an unsprayed field margin of at least three metres width, the diversity and numbers of arable plants and of insects hosted by these increased substantially (De Snoo 1999). During five years, cover of harmful weeds did not increase in field margins (Musters et al 2009). ...
Pesticides are a major factor affecting biological diversity, along with loss of habitats and climate change. They can have toxic effects in the short term in directly exposed organisms, or long-term effects by causing changes in habitats and the food chain.
Briefing written by R. Isenring and edited by Peter Clarke, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe; available online at https://www.pan-europe.info/resources/reports?page=6
... Hence, the creation and management of vegetated strips such as field margins have the potential to restore habitat diversity for the benefit of associated farmland biodiversity [35]. Hedgerows and other field margin vegetation types have been shown to affect the richness and abundance of flora, invertebrates and birds [36][37][38]. For instance, grassy field margins have been shown to provide important refuge and food for invertebrates, mammals and birds [39,40]. ...
Background
Agriculture can have substantial negative impacts on the environment. The establishment and management of vegetated strips adjacent to farmed fields (including various field margins, buffer strips and hedgerows) are commonly advocated mitigation measures for these negative environmental impacts. However, it may be difficult to obtain reliable evidence on the effects of implementation and management of vegetated strips, even though a substantial body of evidence exists. We describe a systematic map of research relating to vegetated strips in boreo-temperate farming systems to answer the question: What evidence exists regarding the effects of field margins on nutrients, pollutants, socioeconomics, biodiversity, and soil retention in boreo-temperate systems?
Methods
We searched 13 bibliographic databases, 1 search engine and 37 websites of stakeholder organisations using a predefined and tested search string focusing on a comprehensive list of English language vegetated strip synonyms. Searches in Danish, Finnish, Spanish, and Swedish were also conducted using web searches. We screened search results at title, abstract and full text levels, recording the number of studies deemed non-relevant (with reasons at full text). A systematic map database of meta-data (i.e. descriptive summary information about the settings and methods) for relevant studies was produced following full text assessment. The systematic map database is provided as an evidence atlas: interactive, web-based geographical information system.
Results
Over 31,000 search results were identified, resulting in a total of 1072 relevant primary research studies and 130 evidence reviews. Articles used a variety of terminology to describe vegetated strips, with ‘field margin’, ‘hedgerow’, ‘shelterbelt’ and ‘riparian buffer’ most common. The volume of primary research is increasing linearly year-by-year, whilst the increase in reviews has tailed off in the last 10 years. The USA and UK were most frequently studied and reviewed. Arable systems were investigated in c. 70% of primary research but 50% of reviews. Some 50% of primary research vegetated strips were field edge and 25% riparian, whilst riparian and field edge strips were roughly equally the focus of around a half of all described strips in reviews. Terrestrial biodiversity, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and soil/water loss or retention were the most commonly measured outcomes in primary studies and reviews, although some other outcomes were more common in reviews than research articles (e.g. pesticides).
Conclusions
We identified substantial bodies of evidence on particular sets of related outcomes and ecosystem services, which constitute important knowledge clusters/synthesis gaps relating to: strip width, terrestrial biodiversity, nutrient retention, hydrological regimes, toxic substances, erosion protection, pests, carbon sequestration, and soil and biodiversity combined. We also identified key knowledge gaps relating to: climate regulation, freshwater biodiversity, strip harvesting, cultural ecosystem services, long-term impacts, the relationship between pest populations and crop yield, fuel and fibre production, specific regions and countries (e.g. Russia and South America), and multi-use vegetated strips. This systematic map is an important step in identifying what research has been done to date, and what primary and secondary research is needed as the next step for this topic.
... Margin width Clausen et al., 2001;Dover, 1996;Field et al., 2007;Field et al., 2006;Kuussaari et al., 2007;Kuussaari et al., 2004;Munguira and Thomas, 1992;Skórka et al., 2013;Sparks and Parish, 1995 Structural complexity of margin Dover et al., 2000;Haaland and Gyllin, 2010;Parish 1995 Shelter Dover, 1996;Dover et al., 1997;Kuussaari et al., 2004;Pywell et al., 2004Management of margin Feber et al., 1996Noordijk et al., 2009;Smith et al., 1993;Valtonen et al., 2006 Floral richness/abundance of nectar sources Clausen et al., 2001;Dover, 1996;Ekroos et al., 2008;Feber et al., 1996;Gottwald, 2010;Haaland and Gyllin, 2010;Hanssen, 2001;Kuussaari et al., 2007;Kuussaari et al., 2004;Meek et al., 2002;Skórka et al., 2013;Sparks and Parish 1995 Management of bordering fields/use of pesticides Belfrage et al., 2005;Ekroos et al., 2008;Feber et al., 1997;Feber et al., 1996;Gabriel et al., 2010;Hanssen, 2001;Hodgson et al., 2010;Jonason et al., 2011;Rands and Sotherton, 1986;Rundlöf and Smith, 2006;Rundlöf et al., 2008;de Snoo, 1999;de Snoo et al., 1998;Sparks and Parish, 1995;Taylor and Morecroft, 2009;Weibull et al., 2003;Weibull et al., 2000Adjacent land uses/structures Dover, 1996Kuussaari et al., 2007;Kuussaari et al., 2004;Saarinen et al., 2005;Skórka et al., 2013;Toivonen et al., 2017 Heterogeneity of surrounding landscape Kretschmer et al., 1995;Jonason et al., 2011;Rundlöf and Smith, 2006;Weibull et al., 2003;Weibull et al., 2000 Management of surrounding landscape Gabriel et al., 2010;Rundlöf et al., 2008 Sum of species with a major, main, minor or neophytic occurence in formation #7 "Nitrophile Staudenvegetation" (Nitrophilous perennial forb community), #8 "Kriechpflanzenund Trittrasen" (plant community of creeping plants and trampled areas), #9 "Halbruderale Queckenrasen" (semiruderal couch grass community), #15 "Feuchtwiesen" (damp meadow), #16 "Frischwiesen und −weiden" (fresh grassland), #17 "Zwergstrauchheiden und Borstgrasrasen" (dwarf-shrub and mat grass plant community), #18 "Trockenund Halbtrockenrasen" (dry meadow and semidry grassland), or #19 "Xerotherme Staudenvegetation" (xerothermous forb community) according to Korneck and Sukopp (1988) Field survey; classification from total number of vascular plant species Recording of structural components of the field margin; 1 = without shrubs and hedgerows; 2 = with single shrubs or hedgerow fragments; 3 = with shrub rows or hedgerows Recording whether the field margin is partially mown; 1 = margin is partially mown; 2 = margin is not partially mown Interview with farmer; field survey Grass(g)-herb(h)-ratio (GRASSHERB) Grass-herb-ratio of a field margin; 1 = (g: 75-100%/h: 0-25%); 2 = (g: 50-75%/h: 25-50%); 3 = (g: 25-50%/h: 50-75%); 4 = (g: 0-25%; h:75-100%) Lime content of a field margin; 1 = low (c < 1 or pHvalue < 3.8); 2 = medium (c: 1-3 or pH-value: 3.8-6.2); 3 = high (c > 3 or pH-value > 6.2) ...
With ongoing biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes, there is an increasing demand to document how farmers preserve and enhance biodiversity on their farmland. This subject is not only of interest for conservation authorities and NGOs, food companies also look for ways to integrate biodiversity issues into their corporate activities. They want to know how their farm product suppliers contribute to biodiversity on their land. However, species counting and mapping on contracted farms seems unrealistic to these companies. Therefore, we aimed to devise simple and easy-to-use but scientifically sound parameters to assess the biodiversity value of farmlands. For this we focused on estimating the value of field margins for butterflies and typical vascular grassland plants. We identified 13 parameters that are of likely importance for the species numbers of butterflies and 14 parameters likely to be important for the species numbers of plants on field margins. These parameters were tested on a total of 70 field margins on seven farms located throughout Germany. Automatic linear modelling procedures selected six parameters as the most important variables in predicting butterfly numbers: the landscape heterogeneity of the surroundings, the time of mowing, the width and length of the margin, the grass-herb-ratio and the management of the adjacent field. For predicting plant species numbers, the automatic linear modelling procedures again selected six parameters as best predictors: the length of the margin, the presence of trees and/or shrubs, the amount of source habitats in the surroundings, the width of the margin, the nutrient availability and the landscape heterogeneity of the surroundings. The adapted final model for butterfly species numbers explained 63% of the variation. The adapted final model for typical vascular grassland plant species numbers, which excluded the margin width variable as it did not prove stable in cross-validation procedures, explained 67% of the variation in plant species numbers. Both models can be used by farmers and food companies alike to rapidly assess the present value of field margins for butterflies and plants on their (contracted) farms and to identity potential and appropriate measures to enhance biodiversity.
... Therefore, on patches directly located at the field boundary, a higher herbicide deposition can be observed and, correspondingly, also stronger negative effects on the community. A distance of 3-6 m is often considered as a buffer zone in herbicide risk assessments (de Snoo, 1999). This is in accordance with the findings of our simulation experiment. ...
Natural grassland communities are threatened by a variety of factors, such as climate change and increasing land use by mankind. The use of plant protection products (synthetic or organic) is mandatory in agricultural food production. To avoid adverse effects on natural grasslands within agricultural areas, synthetic plant protection products are strictly regulated in Europe. However, effects of herbicides on non-target terrestrial plants are primarily studied on the level of individual plants neglecting interactions between species.
In our study, we aim to extrapolate individual-level effects to the population and community level by adapting an existing spatio-temporal, individual-based plant community model (IBC-grass). We analyse the effects of herbicide exposure for three different grassland communities: 1) representative field boundary community, 2) Calthion grassland community, and 3) Arrhenatheretalia grassland community. Our simulations show that herbicide depositions can have effects on non-target plant communities resulting from direct and indirect effects on population level. The effect extent depends not only on the distance to the field, but also on the specific plant community, its disturbance regime (cutting frequency, trampling and grazing intensity) and resource level.
Mechanistic modelling approaches such as IBC-grass present a promising novel approach in transferring and extrapolating standardized pot experiments to community level and thereby bridging the gap between ecotoxicological testing (e.g. in the greenhouse) and protection goals referring to real world conditions.
... A number of studies found in the literature investigated differences in the abundance of invertebrate species in field margins sprayed with pesticides (combination of herbicides, insecticides, and/or fungicides) relative to unsprayed margins (e.g., de Snoo et al. (1995); Moreby (1995);de Snoo et al. (1998);de Snoo and de Leeuw (1996);de Snoo (1999); Rands and Sotherton (1986); Sparks and Parish (1995)). The majority of these studies observed a negative relationship between the application of pesticides and the abundance of invertebrates in field margins. ...
This manuscript reviews the current understanding of indirect effects of herbicides in agricultural edge-of-field habitats, with the goal of identifying key uncertainties and critical knowledge gaps. Indirect effects are defined as those observed in animal species as a result of direct effects of exposure to an herbicide on the plant community. Following an extensive search of the literature, the review focuses on 29 studies that specifically addressed some aspect of the indirect effects of herbicides in edge-of-field habitats. The bulk of work has focused on invertebrate and bird species, with few studies investigating small mammals, amphibians, or reptiles (riparian field margins were not included, where amphibians and reptiles are more likely to occur). Key knowledge gaps identified in the review include: (1) a lack of studies incorporating exposures to edge-of-field habitats that would be relevant based on current agronomic practices; (2) few studies attempt to quantify the herbicide exposure within edge-of-field habitats and consider the influence of methods of herbicide application on exposure; (3) few studies incorporate quantitative linkages between direct effects on the plant community, indirect effects on animal species, and population-level effects; and (4) the majority of studies have been conducted in Europe, with a distinct lack of research investigating the indirect effects of herbicides on field margin fauna under agricultural practices in other regions of the world. Of the studies reviewed, many lack one or more key components of a robust experimental design that would be necessary to quantify exposure to and/or effects of herbicides. Adequate quantification of exposure of the plant community is often lacking, including poor representation of exposure scenarios that adequately mimic spray drift. Further, there is a dearth of studies that even attempt to investigate ecologically-relevant linkages between direct effects on plants and associated indirect effects on plant-dependent communities and population-level effects. The state of knowledge pertaining to the indirect effects of herbicides in agricultural field margins is currently insufficient to adequately assess the nature and extent of risks posed by herbicides in these important habitats. There is a strong need for carefully planned and executed field experiments to quantitatively characterize the risks posed by application of herbicides to terrestrial environments. These studies will help to reduce uncertainty and ensure adequate protection of non-target organisms from possible indirect effect of herbicides.
... Hence, the creation and management of various field margin habitats has the potential to restore habitat diversity for the benefit of associated farmland biodiversity [25]. Hedgerows and other field margin vegetation types have been shown to affect the richness and abundance of flora, invertebrates and birds [26][27][28]. For instance, grassy field margins have been shown to provide important refuge and food for invertebrates, mammals and birds [29,30]. ...
Background
Agriculture and agricultural intensification can have significant negative impacts on the environment, including nutrient and pesticide leaching, spreading of pathogens, soil erosion and reduction of ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. The establishment and management of vegetated strips adjacent to farmed fields (including various field margins, buffer strips and hedgerows) are key mitigation measures for these negative environmental impacts and environmental managers and other stakeholders must often make decisions about how best to design and implement vegetated strips for a variety of different outcomes. However, it may be difficult to obtain relevant, accurate and summarised information on the effects of implementation and management of vegetated strips, even though a vast body of evidence exists on multipurpose vegetated strip interventions within and around fields. To improve the situation, we describe a method for assembling a database of relevant research relating to vegetated strips undertaken in boreo-temperate farming systems (arable, pasture, horticulture, orchards and viticulture), according to the primary question: What evidence exists regarding the effects of field margins on nutrients, pollutants, socioeconomics, biodiversity, and soil retention? Methods
We will search 13 bibliographic databases, one search engine and 37 websites for stakeholder organisations using a predefined and tested search string that focuses on a comprehensive list of vegetated strip synonyms. Non-English language searches in Danish, Finnish, German, Spanish, and Swedish will also be undertaken using a web-based search engine. We will screen search results at title, abstract and full text levels, recording the number of studies deemed non-relevant (with reasons at full text). A systematic map database that displays the meta-data (i.e. descriptive summary information about settings and methods) of relevant studies will be produced following full text assessment. The systematic map database will be displayed as a web-based geographical information system (GIS). The nature and extent of the evidence base will be discussed.
... The main goal in field drift research is the determination of appropriate measures that minimize the negative effects of spray applications on the environment (De Longueville et al., 2007;Schulz, 2004;Murphy et al., 2000;Farooq et al., 2001;de Snoo, 1999). Direct negative effects arise when pesticides drift towards neighbouring buildings and bystanders with consequent public health concerns. ...
... The significant effect of conventional margin suggests that EPF in conventional field boundaries may be negatively affected by practices that occur within the field, for example, herbicide drift. de Snoo [41] observed lower abundance and lower diversity of insects inhabiting field margins that were sprayed with herbicides compared to the field margins left unsprayed. Lower numbers of insects in these reservoirs outside the field could correlate to fewer hosts for EPF [23]. ...
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are widespread in agricultural fields and help suppress crop pests. These natural enemies may be hindered by certain agronomic practices associated with conventional agriculture including the use of pesticides. We tested whether the abundance of EPF differed between organic and conventional fields, and whether specific cropping practices and soil properties were correlated with their abundance. In one year of the survey, soil from organic fields and accompanying margins had significantly more EPF than conventional fields and accompanying margins. Regression analysis revealed that the percentage of silt and the application of organic fertilizer were positively correlated with EPF abundance; but nitrogen concentration, tillage, conventional fields, and margins of conventional fields were negatively correlated with EPF abundance. A greenhouse experiment in which fungicides and herbicides were applied to the soil surface showed no significant effect on EPF. Though organic fields were perceived to be more suitable environments for EPF, abiotic factors and cropping practices such as tillage may have greater impacts on the abundance of EPF. Also, fungicides and herbicides may not be as toxic to soil-borne EPF as originally thought.
In agricultural landscapes, spatiotemporal heterogeneity of land use significantly shaped by non-crop vegetation plays an important role in biodiversity conservation. We investigated the species composition of farmland demarcation woody plants in eastern Japan and their historical and cultural significance. Information from different disciplines on themes such as plant distribution, local uses and practices, and records in early modern documents suggest that Deutzia crenata, the most widely and abundantly planted species at present, has been prevalent since the early modern period (1600–1868). Various local uses of D. crenata such as the use of its wood to make funeral staffs and festival flutes, the use of its leaves as a fertilizer in agriculture, and the use of the living plant through its phenology as an indicator of crop timing, indicate its cultural significance throughout the region. Viburnum sieboldii var. obovatifolium and Weigela coraeensis had a narrower regional distribution in the northern areas. Industrial uses such as raw silk production influenced the distribution of Morus sp. Our study underscores the interplay of culture, nature, and industry in dynamically shaping the regional composition of demarcation woody plants. It also highlights the importance of a historical ecology approach to evaluating multifaceted aspects of the demarcation woody plants in understanding and conserving traditional agricultural landscapes.
Herbicides are the most widely used class of pesticides in the world, applied to eliminate target plants that compete with crops or to kill crop plants to facilitate harvesting. Impacts of herbicide use is not limited to plants but has various consequences for other non-target organisms including humans, overall biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This article provides a scientific overview of current knowledge of herbicide nontarget effects and identifies gaps in herbicide risk assessment. We conclude that current Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) schemes for herbicides do not readily consider impacts on ecosystem functions and biodiversity, although protecting biodiversity is one of the biggest global challenges. We identified a lack in interdisciplinary approaches considering real-world ecological interactions taking place within agricultural fields and at the landscape level in order to better understand non-target effects of herbicides.
Headland and field edges have a higher traffic frequency compared to the field centre, which causes more compaction. Most repeated compaction is located at the field entrance area and headland during machinery turning and material transporting that takes place during the fertilisation, herbicide laying, and harvesting of fields, which could cause soil structure destruction and yield reduction. In this study, the differences between headland, field edges, and field centre were studied using yield maps and the vegetation indices (VIs) calculated by the Google Earth Engine (GEE). First, thirteen yield maps from 2019 to 2022 were used to measure the yield difference between headland, field edges, and field centre. Then, one hundred and eleven fields from northern Italy were used to compare the vegetation indices (VIs) differences between headland, field edges, and field centre area. Then, field size, sand, and clay content were calculated and estimated from GEE. The yield map showed that headland and field edges were 12.20% and 2.49% lower than the field centre. The results of the comparison of the VIs showed that headlands and field edges had lower values compared to the field centre, with reductions of 4.27% and 2.70% in the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), 4.17% and 2.67% in the green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), and 5.87% and 3.59% in the normalised difference red edge (NDRE). Additionally, the results indicated that the yield losses in the headland and field edges increased as the clay content increased and sand content decreased. These findings suggest that soil compaction and structural damage caused by the higher traffic frequency in the headland and field edges negatively affect crop yield.
Scoping study to design a landscape-scale monitoring project of AES impacts on mobile species.
Published online by Defra: https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=19727
Field margins are areas of natural or semi-natural vegetation located adjacent to agricultural fields. They form the interface between different crops and to other land use and land cover types. In most analyses of cropping patterns field margin vegetation (FMV) is neither accounted for nor is it a part of so-called natural ecosystems. Nevertheless, FMV provides important ecosystem services, is integrated in the farming practices of traditional smallholder agriculture, and contributes to farmers’ income. The area, composition and functions of FMV change as agroecosystems are transformed under progressing urbanisation, as encountered in the periphery of Bengaluru, India. This study is a first attempt to systematically assess FMV in such a context. It focuses on different characteristics of FMV along a spatial rural–urban gradient, and its interrelation with changes in crop and farm management.
Der Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt ist eine gesellschaftlich sehr wichtige Aufgabe, deren Bedeutung in den letzten Jahrzehnten zunehmend auch politisch erkannt wird. Nationale wie globale Zielsetzungen, den Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt aufzuhalten und eine positive Trendwende zu erreichen, wurden bislang allerdings verfehlt. Als wichtige Ursachen für den Verlust der Artenvielfalt werden sowohl der Landnutzungswandel als auch Klimaveränderungen gesehen. Landnutzungsintensivierungen haben insbesondere seit der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts zu einem zunehmenden Rückgang der Artenvielfalt in der Agrarlandschaft geführt. Die Ursachen für diesen Rückgang sind vielfältig. Sie umfassen eine Abnahme der Nahrungsgrundlage vieler Arten, u.a. durch den Einsatz von Herbiziden und Insektiziden, und den Verlust von geeigneten Fortpflanzungs- und Nahrungshabitaten durch einen Rückgang der Strukturvielfalt und des Anteils naturnaher Habitate. Seit Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts rückt zunehmend auch der Klimawandel als Einflussgröße für den Rückgang der Artenvielfalt in den Fokus. Einhergehend mit steigenden Temperaturen wurden bereits Verschiebungen von Verbreitungsgrenzen und Veränderungen in der Phänologie von Arten beobachtet. Bis zum Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts werden neben weiter steigenden Temperaturen die Zunahme von Hitzewellen und extremen Niederschlagsereignissen, eine Veränderung der Niederschlagsverhältnisse und ein weiterer Anstieg des Meeresspiegels erwartet.
Zwischen Klima und Landnutzung gibt es vielfältige Wechselwirkungen und sich gegenseitig verstärkende Effekte - auch in ihrer Wirkung auf einzelne Arten und die biologische Vielfalt. Hier gilt es, Methoden zur Erfassung und Bewertung von Auswirkungen landnutzungs- und klimawandelbedingter Umweltveränderungen zu entwickeln und aufzuzeigen, durch welche Maßnahmen negative Auswirkungen auf die Artenvielfalt vermieden oder vermindert werden können. Akteure zur Umsetzung solcher Maßnahmen sind einerseits der behördliche und ehrenamtliche Naturschutz. Andererseits ist gerade in der Agrarlandschaft auch die Einbindung von Landwirten entscheidend, um möglichst dauerhafte und großflächige Wirkungen zu erzielen.
Ein Weg der Einbindung von Landwirten in naturschutzfachliche Maßnahmenprogramme führt über die lebensmittelerzeugenden Unternehmen, die Abnehmer ihrer Produkte sind. Solche Unternehmen, gerade aus der Biobranche, suchen zunehmend nach Möglichkeiten, ihren Kunden transparent und glaubwürdig zu kommunizieren, was ihre Zulieferlandwirte für den Erhalt und die Förderung der Artenvielfalt leisten. Flächendeckende Vor-Ort-Erfassungen von Arten sind dabei aber sowohl aus Kosten- als auch aus Zeitgründen unrealistisch. Einfache Modelle bzw. Indikatorensets, die die Artenvielfalt auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen valide abbilden und dabei zeiteffizient und praxisnah in der Datenerhebung und Anwendung sind, werden daher dringend benötigt, fehlen aber bislang. Auf Basis solcher Modelle können auch Maßnahmen für die Betriebsebene und deren Potenzial zur Steigerung der Artenvielfalt abgeleitet werden.
Im Hinblick auf Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf Tierarten fehlen derzeit vor allem auf regionaler Ebene Einschätzungen über die Empfindlichkeit von Artengemeinschaften gegenüber den projizierten Klimaänderungen und darüber, wie sich klimabedingte Arealverschiebungen auf die Zusammensetzung regionaler Artengemeinschaften auswirken könnten. Solche Einschätzungen braucht es aber, um den naturschutzfachlichen Handlungsbedarf für Anpassungsstrategien und -maßnahmen zu identifizieren und zu konkretisieren. Zu entsprechenden Anpassungsmaßnahmen gibt es bereits eine Reihe von Empfehlungen, die allerdings häufig unspezifisch bleiben, so dass vielen Praktikern unklar ist, welche Maßnahmen Priorität haben und wie diese konkret umgesetzt werden sollen und können. Daher ist es erforderlich, solche allgemeinen Maßnahmenempfehlungen für die jeweilige regionale Ebene unter Berücksichtigung der Empfindlichkeit der dort vorkommenden Arten und möglicher klimabedingter Ein- und Abwanderungsprozesse zu konkretisieren.
Vor dem Hintergrund dieser Wissenslücken war das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit, einen Beitrag dazu zu leisten, Auswirkungen landnutzungs- und klimawandelbedingter Umweltveränderungen auf Tierarten auf der regionalen bzw. lokalen Ebene zu ermitteln und zu bewerten, um darauf aufbauend geeignete und für die jeweilige Ebene hinreichend konkrete naturschutzfachliche Maßnahmen zur Verminderung negativer Auswirkungen ableiten zu können. Dazu wurde exemplarisch für einzelne Regionen, Lebensräume und Tierartengruppen untersucht,
1) anhand welcher Indikatorensets und Modelle sich die Artenvielfalt auf der Ebene landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe praxistauglich, zeiteffizient und valide abbilden lässt,
2) an welchen Kriterien eine Empfindlichkeit von Tierarten gegenüber klimatischen Veränderungen auf naturräumlicher Ebene festgemacht werden kann,
3) wie sich ein klimawandelbedingter Turnover in Artengemeinschaften eines Naturraums abschätzen lässt,
4) welche Maßnahmen zum Erhalt und zur Förderung der Artenvielfalt basierend auf den Ergebnissen solcher Analysen auf lokaler und regionaler Ebene abgeleitet werden können,
5) welche Synergien sich im Hinblick auf Maßnahmen zur Verringerung negativer Auswirkungen von Klimawandel und Landnutzung ergeben und welche Grenzen die entwickelten Methoden zur Einschätzung solcher Auswirkungen aufweisen.
Hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen landnutzungsbedingter Umweltveränderungen auf Tierarten wurde untersucht, ob und wie sich die Artenvielfalt und mögliche Veränderungen durch die Landnutzung oder durch Naturschutzmaßnahmen auf der Ebene landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe mit Hilfe von einfach handhabbaren Modellen und Indikatorensets abbilden lassen. Dazu wurden in umfangreichen Literaturstudien mögliche Einflussvariablen identifiziert, die für die Artenvielfalt von Tagfaltern auf Rainen und die Artenvielfalt von Vögeln in Hecken sowie auf Äckern von Bedeutung sein können. Auf sieben über Deutschland verteilten landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben wurden sowohl Daten zu diesen möglichen Einflussvariablen erhoben als auch Erfassungen der Artengruppen Tagfalter und Vögel durchgeführt. Durch multiple lineare Regressionsanalysen wurden aus dem Set der möglichen Einflussvariablen anhand der auf den Betrieben erhobenen Daten diejenigen identifiziert, die die Artenvielfalt von Tagfaltern und Vögeln am besten vorhersagen. Bei Tagfaltern auf Rainen sind dies die Heterogenität der umgebenden Landschaft, der Mahdzeitpunkt, die Breite, Länge und das Gräser-Kräuter-Verhältnis des Rains sowie die Bewirtschaftungsart angrenzender Felder. Für die Artenvielfalt von Vögeln in Hecken wurden die Variablen Länge und Breite der Hecke, die Anzahl der Gehölzarten, das Vorkommen von Höhlen/Totholz, das Vorhandensein von Dornsträuchern sowie die Breite des angrenzenden Krautsaums als wichtigste Einflussfaktoren zur Vorhersage der Artenvielfalt ermittelt. Ein Modell zur Vorhersage der Artenvielfalt von Vögeln auf Äckern wurde verworfen, da die Ergebnisse deutlich von der Datenlage der Stichprobe geprägt waren und nur zum Teil den Erkenntnissen aus der zuvor durchgeführten Literaturstudie entsprachen.
Die aus den Modellergebnissen ableitbaren Maßnahmen für die Betriebsebene beziehen sich auf die jeweils bedeutsamen Einflussfaktoren - z.B. das Mahdregime bzw. den Mahdzeitpunkt bei Rainen und die Anlage oder Verbreitung von Krautsäumen zwischen Hecken und den an diese angrenzenden Feldern - und betreffen sowohl die Optimierung vorhandener Strukturen als auch die Neuanlage von Landschaftselementen. Diese stellen einen Baustein im Spektrum sinnvoller Maßnahmen auf landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben dar und sollten durch weitere flankiert werden. Dazu ist eine gesamtbetriebliche Perspektive wichtig, die die betriebs- und landschaftsraumspezifischen Voraussetzungen einbindet. Zur Unterstützung hierbei kann einerseits landwirtschaftliche Beratung, andererseits aber auch eine vom Landwirt selbst bedienbare naturschutzfachliche Managementsoftware dienen. In eine solche Software (MANUELA - Managementsystem Naturschutz für eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft) wurden die in der vorliegenden Arbeit entwickelten Modelle bereits implementiert und ergänzen dort bereits vorhandene Tools, zum Beispiel zur Ermittlung und Bewertung der Pflanzenartenvielfalt auf Äckern, aber auch zum Landschaftsbild und zum Biotopverbund.
Hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen klimawandelbedingter Umweltveränderungen wurde unter-sucht, an welchen Kriterien sich eine Empfindlichkeit von Tierarten gegenüber solchen Umweltveränderungen auf naturräumlicher Ebene festmachen lässt und welche Eigenschaften eine Anpassung an sich ändernde Umweltbedingungen erschweren. Mit Hilfe einer auf solchen Kriterien basierenden Empfindlichkeitsanalyse wurde ermittelt, wie viele Tierarten in den naturräumlichen Regionen „Harz“ und „Lüneburger Heide und Wendland“ eine erhöhte Empfindlichkeit gegenüber klimawandelbedingten Umweltveränderungen aufweisen. Dabei wurden Vertreter der Artengruppen Brutvögel, Amphibien, Reptilien, Heuschrecken, Tagfalter und Libellen mit einbezogen. Eine voraussichtlich erhöhte Empfindlichkeit gegenüber spezifisch klimawandelbedingten Umweltveränderungen lässt sich bei jeweils ca. 39% der untersuchten Tierarten in den naturräumlichen Regionen „Harz“ und „Lüneburger Heide und Wendland“ feststellen. Dabei scheinen insgesamt mehr Arten negativ von einer Abnahme der Sommerniederschläge betroffen zu sein als von einer Erhöhung der Temperaturen. Weiterhin wurde ermittelt, wie klimabedingte Veränderungen der Zusammensetzung von Vogellebensgemeinschaften in einem Naturraum abgeschätzt und Prognosen über mögliche klimabedingte Zu- und Abwanderungen von Arten getroffen werden können. Dazu wurde der Artenpool des Naturraums Lüneburger Heide mit den Artenpools zukünftig klimaanaloger Räume verglichen. Zukünftig klimaanaloge Räume sind Gebiete, die gegenwärtig klimatische Verhältnisse aufweisen, die zukünftig für das Untersuchungsgebiet projiziert werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Mehrzahl der Vogelarten die für den Zeitraum 2071-2100 erwarteten Klimabedingungen im Naturraum Lüneburger Heide vermutlich tolerieren kann, die Artenvielfalt insgesamt aber möglicherweise abnehmen wird. Viele der potenziell aus dem Naturraum abwandernden Arten sind an Feuchtgebiete als Lebensraum gebunden.
Zur Verringerung negativer klimawandelbedingter Auswirkungen auf Tierarten können zum einen derzeitige Gefährdungsursachen und Stressoren minimiert werden, um die Habitatverfügbarkeit und -qualität zu erhöhen und die Resilienz sowie das Anpassungspotenzial von Arten zu stärken. Als prioritäre Maßnahmen sind je nach naturräumlicher Region die folgenden anzusehen: Maßnahmen zum Schutz und zur Wiederherstellung von Feuchtlebensräumen, Maßnahmen zur Verhinderung von Nährstoffeinträgen bzw. Eutrophierung und zur Extensivierung landwirtschaftlicher Nutzung, Maßnahmen zur Erhöhung der Konnektivität in der Landschaft und zur Verringerung des Landschaftsverbrauchs, Maßnahmen zur Offenhaltung von Lebensräumen und Maßnahmen zur naturnahen Waldrandgestaltung bzw. Waldbewirtschaftung. Zum anderen kann zur Verringerung negativer klimawandelbedingter Auswirkungen auf Tierarten die Konnektivität in der Landschaft gefördert und der Erhalt und die Schaffung von Biotopverbundstrukturen gestärkt werden, um den Arten eine Anpassung durch die Verschiebung ihrer Verbreitungsareale zu ermöglichen. Besonders auf überregionale Biotopverbundmaßnahmen zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel angewiesen sind in beiden naturräumlichen Regionen Arten des Offenlandes, in der naturräumlichen Region „Lüneburger Heide und Wendland“ zusätzlich auch Arten der Gewässer.
Da viele der derzeitigen Gefährdungsursachen potenziell klimaempfindlicher Arten nutzungsbezogen sind und auch direkte oder indirekte Folge landwirtschaftlicher Nutzung sein können, sind Synergien zwischen Maßnahmen zur Verminderung negativer Auswirkungen von Landnutzungs- und Klimawandeleinflüssen offenkundig. Dies betrifft auch die Stärkung des Biotopverbunds. Hier spielen Raine und Hecken in der Agrarlandschaft eine wichtige Rolle - auch vor dem Hintergrund des Klimawandels, da viele der auf Biotopverbund als Anpassungsmaßnahme angewiesenen Arten Bewohner des Offenlandes sind. Ein besonderes Gewicht kommt im Hinblick auf den Klimawandel dem Schutz bzw. der Renaturierung und Schaffung von Feuchtlebensräumen zu. Diese werden bislang nur zum Teil durch die Modelle zur Abschät-zung der Artenvielfalt auf landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben abgedeckt, so dass in der Erweiterung der Modelle um die Lebensräume Feuchtgrünland und Grünland im Allgemeinen eine mögliche Weiterentwicklung der vorliegenden Arbeit zu sehen ist. Da ein Großteil der Fläche Deutschlands landwirtschaftlich genutzt wird, kommt der Landwirtschaft bei der Bewahrung der Artenvielfalt eine Schlüsselrolle zu. Die vermehrte Integration naturschutzfachlicher Ziele in die Landbewirtschaftung kann daher wesentlich zum Erhalt und zur Förderung der Artenvielfalt beitragen, nicht nur im Hinblick auf landnutzungsbezogene sondern auch auf klimawandelbezogene Einflüsse. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert dazu wichtige Ansätze.
Flower strips, which are created on arable land by sowing species-rich seed mixtures, are considered to have a high potential to counteract species decline of butterflies in the agricultural landscape. However, it remains largely unexplored how various factors (design, habitat quality, landscape context) interact to determine the occurrence of butterflies in flower strips. Therefore, butterflies were surveyed in 15 flower strips differing in age (first and second growing season). Flower strips were compared with 15 field margins, which were adjacent to arable land and were dominated by grasses. The field studies were conducted during two summers (2013, 2014) in Lower Saxony (Germany). Additionally, based on a literature study, 17 environmental variables likely to be decisive for the occurrence of butterflies were identified and recorded during these field studies or analyzed in GIS. Supported by a PCA, 8 environmental variables for flower strips and 7 for field margins, were selected and included in linear mixed-effects models in order to calculate their effect on butterflies.
We documented 19 butterfly species and 1,394 individuals in the flower strips and 13 species and 401 individuals in the field margins. The number of flowering plant species was the key factor for the occurrence of butterflies - both in flower strips and field margins. The diversity of the surrounding landscape (Shannon-Index H) had an additional significant influence on butterflies in flower strips, with more species and individuals being observed on areas with a lower Shannon-Index.
Number of flowering plant species is the key driver of butterfly diversity and abundance, which improves the habitat quality of flower strips in agricultural landscapes. In order to promote butterflies optimally, flower strips must have a good supply of flowers even over several years. This requires careful design and management, as flower supply often decreases with increasing age of the flower strips. The study indicates that flower strips have a particularly high effect in structurally simple landscapes.
This study investigates the spatial and temporal impact of microclimate conditions caused by poplar hedgerows in a short rotation alley cropping system (SRACS), and their effect on the atmospheric evaporative demand (AED) and the grain crop yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Patras) in direct comparison to a common agricultural crop system. Microclimate was measured at nine positions distributed at the SRACS and an adjacent open field in Brandenburg State (Germany) from March to August 2016. Our hypothesis was that microclimate and AED was improved at SRACS, with traceable effects on the crop yield. The analysis of air temperature and water vapour deficit (VPD) data revealed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower daytime values from June to August at the crop alley of the SRACS, which were generally most frequent at the poplar hedgerow and 3 m west positions. By contrast, wind speed was reduced at almost all the positions of our crop alley and during the entire measurement period during both day and night. The AED measured on sampling days in July was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced at the whole crop alley, with values from 24 to 32% in comparison to the open field. We observed a strong linear relationship (R² ≈ 0.78–0.99) between AED on one side and wind speed and VPD on the other side. The average grain yield within the SRACS was 16% higher than on the OF. However, our microclimate data were insufficient to explain this yield surplus.
This study investigates the spatial and temporal impact of microclimate conditions caused by poplar hedgerows in a short rotation alley cropping system (SRACS), and their effect on the atmospheric evaporative demand (AED) and the grain crop yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Patras) in direct comparison to a common agricultural crop system. Microclimate was measured at nine positions distributed at the SRACS and an adjacent open field in Brandenburg State (Germany) from March to August 2016. Our hypothesis was that microclimate and AED was improved at SRACS, with traceable effects on the crop yield. The analysis of air temperature and water vapour deficit (VPD) data revealed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower daytime values from June to August at the crop alley of the SRACS, which were generally most frequent at the poplar hedgerow and 3 m west positions. By contrast, wind speed was reduced at almost all the positions of our crop alley and during the entire measurement period during both day and night. The AED measured on sampling days in July was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced at the whole crop alley, with values from 24 to 32% in comparison to the open field. We observed a strong linear relationship (R2 ≈ 0.78–0.99) between AED on one side and wind speed and VPD on the other side. The average grain yield within the SRACS was 16% higher than on the OF. However, our microclimate data were insufficient to explain this yield surplus.
The Green Revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides and high yield crops had enabled to increase food production in the mid and late 20th. The benefits of this agricultural intensification have however reached their limits since yields are no longer increasing for many crops, negative externalities on the environment and human health are now recognized and economic inequality between farmers have increased. Agroecology has been proposed to secure food supply with fewer or lower negative environmental and social impacts than intensive agriculture. Agroecology principles are based on the recognition that biodiversity in agroecosystems can provide more than only food, fibre and timber. Hence, biodiversity and its associated functions, such as pollination, pest control, and mechanisms that maintain or improve soil fertility, may improve production efficiency and sustainability of agroecosystems. Although appealing, promoting ecological-based agricultural production is not straightforward since agroecosystems are socio-ecosystems with complex interactions between the ecological and social systems that act at different spatial and temporal scales. To be operational, agroecology thus requires understanding the relationships between biodiversity, functions and management, as well as to take into account the links between agriculture, ecology and the society. Here we review current knowledge on (i) the effect of landscape context on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and (ii) trophic and non-trophic interactions in ecological networks in agroecosystems. In particular, many insights have been made these two previous decades on (i) the interacting effects of management and landscape characteristics on biodiversity, (ii) the crucial role of plant diversity in delivering multiple services and (iii) the variety of ecological belowground mechanisms determining soil fertility in interaction with aboveground processes. However, we also pinpointed the absence of consensus on the effects of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity and the need for a better mechanistic understanding of the effects of landscape and agricultural variables on farmland food webs and related services. We end by proposing new research avenues to fill knowledge gaps and implement agroecological principles within operational management strategies.
The Green Revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides and high yield crops had enabled to increase food production in the mid and late 20th. The benefits of this agricultural intensification have however reached their limits since yields are no longer increasing for many crops, negative externalities on the environment and human health are now recognized and economic inequality between farmers have increased. Agroecology has been proposed to secure food supply with fewer or lower negative environmental and social impacts than intensive agriculture. Agroecology principles are based on the recognition that biodiversity in agroecosystems can provide more than only food, fibre and timber. Hence, biodiversity and its associated functions, such as pollination, pest control, and mechanisms that maintain or improve soil fertility, may improve production efficiency and sustainability of agroecosystems. Although appealing, promoting ecological-based agricultural production is not straightforward since agroecosystems are socio-ecosystems with complex interactions between the ecological and social systems that act at different spatial and temporal scales. To be operational, agroecology thus requires understanding the relationships between biodiversity, functions and management, as well as to take into account the links between agriculture, ecology and the society. Here we review current knowledge on (i) the effect of landscape context on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and (ii) trophic and non-trophic interactions in ecological networks in agroecosystems. In particular, many insights have been made these two previous decades on (i) the interacting effects of management and landscape characteristics on biodiversity, (ii) the crucial role of plant diversity in delivering multiple services and (iii) the variety of ecological belowground mechanisms determining soil fertility in interaction with aboveground processes. However, we also pinpointed the absence of consensus on the effects of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity and the need for a better mechanistic understanding of the effects of landscape and agricultural variables on farmland food webs and related services. We end by proposing new research avenues to fill knowledge gaps and implement agroecological principles within operational management strategies.
The Green Revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers,
synthetic pesticides and high yield crops had enabled to increase food production in the mid and late 20th. The benefits of this agricultural intensification have however reached their limits since yields are no longer increasing for many crops, negative externalities on the environment and human health are now recognized and economic
inequality between farmers have increased. Agroecology has been proposed to secure food supply with fewer or lower negative environmental and social impacts than intensive agriculture. Agroecology principles are based on the recognition that biodiversity in agroecosystems can provide more than only food, fibre and timber. Hence, biodiversity and its associated functions, such as pollination,
pest control, and mechanisms that maintain or improve soil fertility, may improve production efficiency and sustainability of agroecosystems. Although appealing, promoting ecological-based agricultural production is not straightforward since agroecosystems are socio-ecosystems with complex interactions between the ecological and social systems that act at different spatial and temporal scales. To be operational, agroecology thus requires understanding the relationships between biodiversity, functions and management, as well as to take into account the links between agriculture, ecology and the society. Here we review current knowledge on (i) the effect of landscape context on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and (ii) trophic and non-trophic interactions in ecological networks in agroecosystems. In particular, many insights have been made these two previous decades on (i) the interacting effects of management and landscape characteristics on biodiversity, (ii) the crucial role of plant diversity in delivering multiple services and (iii) the variety of ecological belowground mechanisms determining soil fertility in interaction with aboveground processes. However, we also pinpointed the absence of consensus on the effects of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity and the need for a better mechanistic understanding of the effects of landscape and agricultural variables on farmland food webs and related services. We end by proposing new research avenues to fill knowledge gaps and implement agroecological principles within operational management strategies.
Développer des systèmes de culture respectant voire favorisant la biodiversité est un enjeu important pour les agronomes dans le contexte sociétal actuel. Pour ce faire, ceux-ci ont besoin de méthodes prédictives d’évaluation des effets des pratiques agricoles sur la biodiversité pour caractériser et évaluer les systèmes étudiés. Les écologues reconnaissent la nécessité d’aborder la biodiversité non seulement comme la richesse spécifique mais aussi par le biais des services écosystémiques qu’elle peut rendre à l’homme. Il existe de nombreuses propositions d’indicateurs de biodiversité mais ceux-ci reposent, soit sur des mesures de diversité au sein de groupes taxonomiques, soit sur des variables de pratiques et ne sont pas prédictifs. L’objectif de la thèse a été de concevoir un indicateur prédictif des effets des pratiques agricoles sur la biodiversité et ses services. Pour effectuer ce travail, nous avons choisi de nous baser sur la diversité floristique en bordure de champ et sur les services qui lui sont liés : la valeur patrimoniale, enjeu sociétal et la pollinisation, enjeu majeur pour l’agriculture. Nous avons structuré ce travail en trois étapes. En premier lieu, nous avons sélectionné les pratiques agricoles connues pour leurs effets combinés sur la biodiversité et ses services, identifié leurs natures et estimé l’ampleur de leurs effets à l'échelle de la bordure de champ. Dans une seconde étape, nous avons intégré par expertise la connaissance sur ces effets dans un modèle opérationnel.A la suite de ce travail de conception, nous avons évalué la sensibilité, et la qualité prédictive du modèle en le confrontant à un jeu de données mesurées sur le terrain dans le cadre de la thèse ou acquises dans le cadre d’autres travaux. Enfin, nous avons transformé les sorties du modèle (probabilité de présence pour 338 espèces) en un indicateur en les agrégeant en une valeur synthétique. Nous avons positionné ensuite celle-ci par rapport à des références que nous avons sélectionnées, et sur une échelle de notation lisible. Le développement de cet indicateur prédictif opérationnel permettra aux agronomes d’évaluer les effets positifs et négatifs des pratiques agricoles, et d’identifier des pratiques innovantes respectueuses de la biodiversité et de ses services. L’indicateur pourra être utilisé avec d’autres indicateurs environnementaux, économiques et sociaux dans la perspective de l’étude de la durabilité des exploitations agricoles en grandes cultures.
A major consideration in protecting the environment from exposure to pesticides has been to minimise spray droplets drifting and subsequently sedimenting on water surfaces. In practice spray drift is not the main source of contamination in water. In many cases the most serious cases of pesticide pollution are due to spillages. Recently, there has been concern that some pesticides and their metabolites may remain in the environment bound to soil and are not extracted by the usual chemical processes. Like crops, non-target vegetation will also vary in its susceptibility to herbicides. Several methods can be adopted to encourage bird populations on farms. In addition to conservation headlands, the use of no-spray buffer zones can be developed as ?set-aside? areas. Several agri-environmental projects are evaluating different approaches to habitat management. Most registration authorities examine data on the impact of pesticides on specific key indicator species.
Modern intensive farming caused pronounced changes to the European arable flora. Many species adapted to less intensive traditional farming declined severely, as did the potential of unsown arable vegetation to support higher trophic levels. To reverse these trends, various agri-environment measures were introduced. One such measure is to manage cereal headlands as conservation headlands, involving strict restrictions on pesticide and fertiliser use. An additional modification to management which could reduce crop competition and thus deliver benefits to arable plants is cereal sowing at reduced rates. However, little is known about its benefits to rare and declining arable plants, or to species of value to higher trophic levels, and whether it can be implemented without concomitant increase in undesirable weeds. We set up identical two-factorial experiments in winter wheat and spring barley, combining a nitrogen fertiliser versus no fertiliser treatment with cereal sowing at economic rates versus sowing at rates reduced by 75 %, with added sowing of a mixture of rare arable species. Both experiments also included an uncropped but cultivated control equivalent to another agri-environment measure. Our results show that reduced cereal sowing in conservation headlands can benefit rare and declining species, as well as arable plant diversity, without necessarily resulting in a concomitant increase in undesirable weeds. While such benefits tended to be larger in uncropped cultivated controls, conservation headlands have the advantage of not requiring land being taken out of production. Moreover, as shown in this study, their benefits to arable plants can be maximised by reduced sowing.
Persistence and dissipation of fluopicolide and propamocarb were studied on cabbage and soil as per good agricultural practices over a period of 2 years. A modified QuEChERS analytical method in conjunction with gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry was used for analysis of fluopicolide and its metabolite, 2,6-dichlorobenzamide, and propamocarb in cabbage and soil. The results of the method validation were satisfactory with recoveries within 74.5–100.81% and relative standard deviations 4.8–13.9% (n = 6). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of both fluopicolide and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide were 0.003 µg mL−1 and 0.01 mg kg−1, respectively. The LOD and LOQ of propamocarb were 0.03 µg mL−1 and 0.1 mg kg−1, respectively. During 2013, the initial residue deposits of fluopicolide on cabbage were 0.60 and 1.48 mg kg−1 from treatments at the standard and double doses of 100 and 200 g a.i. ha−1 which dissipated with the half-life of 3.4 and 3.7 days. During 2014, the residues were 0.49 and 1.13 mg kg−1 which dissipated with the half-life of 4.2 and 5.1 days. Propamocarb residues on cabbage were 5.36 and 12.58 mg kg−1 in the first study (2013) and 4.85 and 10.26 mg kg−1 in the second study (2014) from treatments at the standard and double doses of 1000 and 2000 g a.i. ha−1, respectively. The residues dissipated with the half-life of 4–5.5 days. The preharvest interval, the time required for fluopicolide + propamocarb residues to dissipate below the maximum residue limits (notified by EU) at the standard dose, was 11.8 and 14 days during 2013 and 2014. Residue of 2,6-dichlorobenzamide was always <LOQ in cabbage. Residues of fluopicolide, 2,6-dichlorobenzamide and propamocarb were <LOQ in field soil at harvest.
Approximately 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries grew biotech (genetically modified) crops in 2006. Yet this technology remains one of the most controversial agricultural issues of current times. Many consumer and environmental lobby groups believe that genetically modified (GM) crops will bring very little benefit to growers and to the general public and that they will have a deleterious effect on the environment. The human population is currently 6 billion and it is predicted to increase to 9-10 billion in the next 50 years. This is at a time when food and fuel are competing for land and climate change threatens to compromise current resources. It is, and will continue to be, a priority for agriculture to produce more crops on less land. From the dawn of agriculture, humans have modified their environment. Landscapes are shaped to suit our needs and the plants we grow as crops are engineered to our tastes and requirements. Throughout history food production has kept pace with population growth as a result of our innovative abilities, but it did so at a cost. Future agricultural production should not degrade the environment as it has in the past, it must become more sustainable. Will the adoption of biotech crops help to meet this challenge?
Interest in pollen-borne gene dispersal has grown with the cultivation of genetically modified plants. To date both experimental data and models of oilseed rape (OSR) Brassica napus pollen movement at the landscape scale do not clearly differentiate between wind- and insect-mediated dispersal. Estimations of pollen-borne gene dispersal would be valuable for managing potential escapes of transgenes. Our study provides clear evidence that a large variety of insect species can transfer viable pollen between oilseed rape plants over considerable distances (>1.1 km). Insect's diversity according to geographical site and years. However, the majority of pollinator have OSR pollen in their body hairs, only 39.4% of the insects caught on male-sterile flowers carried OSR pollen. Although we could not determine with precision the role of the wind and the insects in the OSR pollination, it would seem that insects take part in a more important way in pollination of plants present in edges of fields, thus increasing cross pollination rate. Our results provide valuable data to improve models of pollen dispersal for entomophilous crops at the landscape scale. These models are essential to help land-managers reduce pollen-borne gene dispersal from genetically modified plants to wild relative and field planted with non-GM crops
: In 1992 and 1993 6 m wide edges of a winter wheat crop were not sprayed with herbicides and insecticides to investigate the impact on the abundance of insects inhabiting the upper parts of the crop and on farmland flowers. To this end, a total of 19 fields were sampled using sweep nets. It was demonstrated that the number of insect groups as well as the insect density increases in the unsprayed edges, by a factor of 1.4 and 3.5, respectively. At the level of the 21 insect groups studied, too, a significant increase in numbers was found for most groups. This held true for aphid predators (mainly Coccinellidae), flower visitors (mainly adult Syrphidae) and insects that form the staple diet of the bird species Motacilla flava flava. Although there was an increase in aphid abundance in most unsprayed edges, the aphids did not spread to the rest of the field, improving the compatibility of unsprayed edges with farm management.
Mean brood size and abundance of insects as food for Perdix perdix chicks were significantly higher where small areas of cereal fields were left unsprayed than on completely sprayed fields. Implications of findings for the conservation of grey partridge are discussed.-from Author
Starting from the general principles of the Zürich-Montpellier school for the description of vegetation by means of field estimations of abundance, cover etc., the authors criticise the scales adopted by most workers, and some of their interpretations. The following analytical characters of vegetation, and methods of estimation, are discussed: height (layering, recognition of synusiae), peripheral and internal cover, density, abundance, sociability, vitality, fertility, and phenological stage of taxa or layers. The main weaknesses of the usual scales for estimation of these characters (see list of references) are considered to be: 1. The use of combined scales for estimation of abundance and cover, and of vitality and fertility. 2. The lack of equivalence in the range of values for each class in most of the existing scales. 3. The limited range of some of the scales, and the absence of provision for more detailed estimations. 4. The inexact definition of degrees of abundance and sociability in the Braun-Blanquet scale. 5. The confusion about the concept of density. A number of proposals is made for the use of scales with closer intervals, based on decimal, logarithmic or other systems. These leave less room for personal interpretation, and are more suitable for subsequent calculations and autecological studies. A method of reducing errors by carrying out certain estimations in two successive steps is suggested, e.g. by estimating peripheral and internal percentage cover (Fig. 1) separately and multiplying both values to obtain real cover. The proposed scales have been tested in routine field work by the authors and other workers in a wide range of vegetation types. An example is given of an analysis of Dutch coastal sand dune vegetation in which some of the proposed scales have been applied. The authors hope that their proposals for a more accurate description of vegetation will help to consolidate the basic principles underlying the Braun-Blanquet system of classification.
: In the Dutch Field Margin Project a field study was carried out in 1990 and 1992 to investigate the extent to which unsprayed field margins offer scope for increasing butterfly abundance in agricultural areas. To this end the outer 3–6 m of fields of winter wheat or potatoes were left unsprayed with herbicides or insecticides. The number of butterflies in the unsprayed margins was compared with numbers in sprayed margins. Six species were found to be abundant: Maniola jurtina, Lasiommata megera, Coenonympha pamphilus, Pieris rapae, Pieris napi and Thymelicus lineola. In both years in the unsprayed winter wheat edges a significant increase was found in the number of species (≅ factor of 2.3) and the number of individuals (a factor of 4.6–4.9). In the unsprayed potato edges only in 1992 the increase in the number of species and individuals was significant (a factor of 3.6 and 6.9, respectively). Also at the level of crop edge plus adjacent field boundary (ditch bank and field edge), the number of species and individuals increased significantly in winter wheat in both years, and in potatoes in 1992 only. The ecological relevance of the results is discussed.
A method based on transect count has been developed to assess changes in abundance of butterflies from year to year. The method involves weekly walks around atransect route making counts of butterflies seen within defined limits. The transects are divided into sections related to habitat or management units. Walks are made only when weather conditions satisfy specified minimum requirements. The method has been tested for three years at Monks Wood and for two years at a number of other sites.The basis for annual comparisons is an index of abundance which is produced for each brood of each species, except when separation of broods is not possible. This index is correlated with abundance, although the precise nature of the relationship will vary from species to species. Evidence on this presented for two species.The method makes it possible to monitor the abundance of butterflies at selected sites, using recorders, such as nature reserve wardens, who can fit in one or two hours recording each week when the weather is suitable. Such a scheme, based on the methods described in this paper, began in 1976. In addition to the monitoring of fluctuations of abundance, the method provides considerable information on the phenology and ecology of butterflies. The division of the transects into sections makes some assessment of the effects of habitat change, due to management or other factors, possible.
The drift of fluorescent tracer in water and formulated pesticide sprays was measured at different heights and distances within 6-m-wide buffer strips (“Conservation Headlands”) and field boundaries surrounding mature winter cereal fields. Spray deposits were taken from artificial collectors. There was a diminution in deposition at the hedgerow, where a 6-m-wide buffer strip of unsprayed crop was employed between the sprayer and the hedgerow compared to where the entire crop edge was fully sprayed. There was some evidence that a mature crop would absorb some of this spray drift, reducing deposition on the hedge flora below crop level and, therefore, the nature of the buffer strip as well as it's width were thought to be important in determining hedgerow deposition rates. Frequency distributions of deposition along strips of hedgerow revealed that the unsprayed buffer zone also served to reduce the peaks in drift that might occur as a result of the pitch and yaw of travelling tractor booms. The vegetational complexity of the hedge bottom was also shown to determine spray deposition within field boundaries. Larvae of the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae[L.]) showed higher mortalities when exposed to hedgerow grasses adjacent to conventionally sprayed headlands compared to those adjacent to a Conservation Headland. A simple methodology for spray deposition studies is outlined, and implications of pesticide drift into field boundaries discussed.
The influence on adjacent ditch-bank vegetation of not spraying crop edges with pesticides was investigated in the Netherlands. To this end, the outer 3–6 m of winter wheat, sugar beet and potato fields were left unsprayed with herbicides and insecticides. The presence and abundance of plant species in adjacent ditch-bank vegetation were compared along sprayed and unsprayed crop edges in the same fields. Only along the unsprayed winter wheat crop did the diversity and cover of dicotyledons increase, as did the floristic value of the vegetation. A lot of species were only found on the ditch banks next to the unsprayed cereal edges, such as Ranunculus repens, Thlaspi arvense, Rumex crispus and Papaver rhoeas. Along this crop no effect was found on monocotyledons. No significant effects were found in the ditch-bank vegetation adjacent to the sugar beet or potato crop. This difference in effect on ditch-bank vegetation among the crops can be explained by differences in the spraying method, herbicides used and dosages employed.
A survey of butterfly numbers on two plots of arable farmland in southern England in 1984 was carried out using the transect method of Pollard et al. (1975). On one plot the field edges were left unsprayed with pesticides (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) from 1 January and on the other all fields were fully sprayed in accordance with normal farming practice. Sprayed and unsprayed transect sections were paired up according to adjacent field boundary habitat type.A total of 868 butterflies were recorded on the unsprayed plot compared to 297 on the sprayed plot. Of the 17 species recorded on more than one survey section, 13 were significantly more abundant on the unsprayed treatment. Butterfly species whose larval host plants occurred in unsprayed field edges showed slightly larger differences in number between treatments than species less able to breed in weedy cereal crops.The results suggest that pesticide use on cereal crops may reduce butterfly numbers and that arable farmland is a habitat in need of further study for butterfly conservation.
On 15 conventionally managed arable farms in an intensive arable farming district on marine clay in the Netherlands, edges of winter wheat, sugar beet and potato crops were either sprayed or unsprayed with herbicides and insecticides, during the period 1990–1994. The presence (frequency) and abundance (ground cover) of farmland plant species within sprayed and unsprayed edges and in the sprayed field centre were compared. In all three crops, leaving 3–6 m wide edges unsprayed, both the presence and abundance of farmland plants increased, by factors of 4.8–12.1 and 1.5–2.7, respectively. The effect was greatest in the winter wheat crop. The increase was attributable mainly to dicotyledonous species. Although the majority of the plants were common farmland species, there was a major enhancement of the floristic value of the unsprayed fields. In the sprayed centres of the fields, the presence and abundance of farmland plants as well as the overall floristic value were consistently lower than in the sprayed and unsprayed edges. Leaving the crop edges unsprayed significantly decreased crop cover in sugar beet fields only. If compatibility with farm management is also taken into account, the measures investigated appear to have the greatest potential in winter wheat.
This paper argues that not only should environmental and ecological benefits and economic costs be considered in developing nature conservation policies at the farm level but that farmers' perceptions should also be taken into account. Statistical analysis of survey data demonstrates the relevance of these behavioural aspects. Arable farmers with experience of unsprayed crop edges indicated that they preferred unsprayed edges in cereals or grass strips for agronomical, farming equipment related and socio-psychological reasons. The study also focused on the “ideal” unsprayed crop edge from the farmers' perspective. It appeared that a flexible width is most important for acceptance in farming practice, because it is, above all, the width that determines compatibility with existing farming organisation and parcel lay-out. In this respect, there was significant differences between regions. With regard to the payment system, farmers prefer a guaranteed reward instead of a “payment for nature” result, irrespective of the region considered.
Pesticide drift from field sprayers fitted with different types of spray nozzles was investigated under various wind speed conditions. Droplet drift was measured adjacent to the sprayed field, on the ditch bank, and in the ditch. Measurements were carried out in the normal sprayed situation and with an unsprayed buffer zone 3 or 6 m wide. The results indicate that there are major differences between spray nozzles. Drift deposition increases with wind speed. In the sprayed situation and with a wind speed of 0.5 m/s, there was a maximum of 6.0% drift deposition halfway down the ditch bank and no drift deposition in the ditch. At 3 m/s wind speed these figures are 25.1 and 2.2%, respectively. At 5 m/s wind speed, 7.2% drift deposition was measured in the ditch. Risk assessment (cf. SLOOTBOX model) carried out with 17 pesticides used in the study area indicated that at this wind speed, 8 of the 17 pesticides investigated posed a risk to aquatic organisms. Creation of a 3-m buffer zone decreases drift deposition in the ditch by a minimum of 95%. Adjacent to the buffer zone only 4 of the 17 pesticides investigated posed a (minor) risk to aquatic organisms. With a 6-m buffer zone no drift deposition in the ditch could be measured (wind speed maximum, 4.5 m/s). Creating unsprayed crop edges offers good possibilities for the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Socioeconomic research among farmers indicates that buffer zones, such as unsprayed cereal edges and unsprayed grass strips, could well be adopted in agricultural practice.
Unsprayed field margins: implications for environment, biodiversity and agricultural practice Enhancement of non-target insects: indications about dimensions of unsprayed crop edges
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De Snoo, G.R., 1994. Cost-benifits of unsprayed crop edges in winter wheat, sugar beet and potatoes. In: Boatman, N.D. (Ed.), Field Margins: Integrating Agriculture and Conservation, BCPC monograph No. 58, pp. 197±201. De Snoo, G.R., 1995. Unsprayed field margins: implications for environment, biodiversity and agricultural practice. PhD thesis, Leiden University. De Snoo, G.R., 1996. Enhancement of non-target insects: indications about dimensions of unsprayed crop edges. Acta Jutlandica 71(2) 209±219. Arthropod Natural Enemies in Arable Land II. Survival, Reproduction and Enhancement Booij, C.J.H., den Nijs, L.J.M.F. (Eds.).
Vogelinventarisatie. Achergronden, richtlijnen en verslaggev-ing Field margin-strip programmes
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Use of pesticides along field margins and ditch banks in the Netherlands Pesticide drift from knapsack sprayers to ditches and ditch banks Buffer zones for reducing pesticide drift to ditches and risks to aquatic organisms
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Sprùjtefri randzoner i saedskiftemarker. Plante-og insektliv samt udbytter: Landsforsùg 1987±1992
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Het vegetatie-onderzoek van de provincie Zuid-Holland. Deelrapport I: verspreiding en ecologie van wilde planten in Zuid-Holland. Deel A: waarderings-parameters
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Government order, Netherlands Second Chamber
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Pesticide use on cereal crops and changes in abundance of butterflies on arable land Gefa Èhrdete Ackerwildkra Èuter ko Ènnen auf ungespritzten Feldra Èndern erhalten werden Farmers' perception of unsprayed crop edges in the Nether-lands
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Field margins: integrating agriculture and conservation
- N D Boatman
The agronomic consequences and costs of managing field margins for game and wildlife conservation
- Boatman
Cost-benifits of unsprayed crop edges in winter wheat, sugar beet and potatoes
- G R De Snoo
Arthropod natural enemies in arable land I. Density. spacial heterogeneity and dispersal
- G R De Snoo
- R J Van Der Poll
- J De Leeuw
Use of pesticides along field margins and ditch banks in the Netherlands
- G R De Snoo
- A Wegener Sleeswijk
Appreciation of the behaviour of pesticides in surface water in relation to exposition of aquatic organisms
- J B H J Linders
- R Luttik
- J M Knoop
- D Van Der Meent
Government order, Netherlands Second Chamber, session
- Meerjarenplan Gewasbescherming
Arthropod Natural Enemies in Arable Land II. Survival, Reproduction and Enhancement Booij
- G R De Snoo
Field margin-strip programmes
- E Jörg
Pesticide drift from knapsack sprayers to ditches and ditch banks
- G R De Snoo
- P J De Wit
Sprøjtefri randzoner i saedskiftemarker. Plante- og insektliv samt udbytter: Landsforsøg 1987-1992. Bekaempelsesemiddelforskning fra Miljørstyrelsen nr
- A B Hald
- J Reddersen
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