Development of biodiversity in field margins recently taken out of production and adjacent ditch banks in arable areas

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of biodiversity in field margins recently taken out of production and adjacent ditch banks in arable areas

AU - Musters, C. J. M.

AU - van Alebeek, F.

AU - Geers, Rhem

AU - Korevaar, H.

AU - Visser, A.

AU - de Snoo, G. R.

N1 - ISI Document Delivery No.: 387PM Times Cited: 18 Cited Reference Count: 62 Musters, C. J. M. van Alebeek, F. Geers, R. H. E. M. Korevaar, H. Visser, A. de Snoo, G. R. Korevaar, Hein/E-8938-2010; Musters, Cornelis/K-7828-2013; de Snoo, geert/M-4315-2013 19 1 64 Elsevier science bv Amsterdam <Go to ISI>://WOS:000261964100017

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Taking field margins out of intensive cultivation is a common form of agri-environmental scheme and on-farm nature management. Typically, no nutrients or pesticides are applied in these margins, which may be sown either with a crop or with grasses and native flowering plants. In some cases the margins are mown, while in others they are left alone. Newly established grass margins are less species-rich than held boundaries or road verges with a long history, justifying the expectation that field margins, if properly managed and given time and appropriate seed sources, could develop into relatively species-rich vegetation. We studied the biodiversity of both margins taken out of production and adjacent ditch banks in the years following initial establishment of the margins. To this end we combined the data of three different projects in order to increase the sensitivity of the statistical analyses. The results showed that the plant species richness of the field margins increased in the years following establishment over a period of four years. In addition, shifts in species composition indicated a decrease in soil nitrate concentrations. The species richness of both butterflies and dragonflies may increase. The most striking result was the marked increase in the plant species richness of the adjacent ditch banks in the five years following creation of the margins. Here, too, changes in species composition indicated a decrease in soil nitrate. in the years following establishment of the field margins there was no increase in the cover of agriculturally harmful weeds in these margins. However, the number of harmful nematodes increased. Our results show the short term effect of establishing field margins. Long term effects are still in need for further research. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AB - Taking field margins out of intensive cultivation is a common form of agri-environmental scheme and on-farm nature management. Typically, no nutrients or pesticides are applied in these margins, which may be sown either with a crop or with grasses and native flowering plants. In some cases the margins are mown, while in others they are left alone. Newly established grass margins are less species-rich than held boundaries or road verges with a long history, justifying the expectation that field margins, if properly managed and given time and appropriate seed sources, could develop into relatively species-rich vegetation. We studied the biodiversity of both margins taken out of production and adjacent ditch banks in the years following initial establishment of the margins. To this end we combined the data of three different projects in order to increase the sensitivity of the statistical analyses. The results showed that the plant species richness of the field margins increased in the years following establishment over a period of four years. In addition, shifts in species composition indicated a decrease in soil nitrate concentrations. The species richness of both butterflies and dragonflies may increase. The most striking result was the marked increase in the plant species richness of the adjacent ditch banks in the five years following creation of the margins. Here, too, changes in species composition indicated a decrease in soil nitrate. in the years following establishment of the field margins there was no increase in the cover of agriculturally harmful weeds in these margins. However, the number of harmful nematodes increased. Our results show the short term effect of establishing field margins. Long term effects are still in need for further research. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KW - Grassy field margins Crop land Temporal changes Floral richness Faunal richness Weeds Nematodes agri-environment schemes intensively farmed landscapes providing foraging resources habitat quality vegetation development boundary vegetation species richness

U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2008.08.003

DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2008.08.003

M3 - Article

SN - 0167-8809

VL - 129

SP - 131

EP - 139

JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

JF - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

IS - 1-3

ER -