Effect of margin strips on soil mineral nitrogen and plant biodiversity

Cauwer, Benny De; Reheul, Dirk; Nijs, Ivan; Milbau, Ann

doi:10.1051/agro:2006004

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our standardized protocol measuring species richness on 10m² equidistant from the field and the adjacent habitat excludes this type of effect (that may however still exist on the larger landscape level). Instead, the width of the field margin determines higher buffering capacities relative to within field practices (De Cauwer et al, 2006) and higher environmental quality in the interior of the margin (Aavik and Liira, 2010).…”

Section: Disturbances Gradient and Naturalness Of Field Marginsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing non-intended effects of farming practices on field margin vegetation with a functional approach

Fried

Villers

Porcher

2018

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To assess the unwanted side effects of farming practices on non-target plants, we used a nationwide survey of the vegetation of arable field margin strips. The vegetation was surveyed during two years (2013, 2014) in 430 field margins distributed over all agricultural regions of France. We used two complementary multivariate, trait-based approaches to examine how ten plant traits were related to ten environmental variables describing abiotic conditions, landscape factors, field margin management and in-field practices. Generalized additive mixed models were also developed to assess how the same environmental variables correlated with species richness, functional diversity and relative richness of agrotolerant versus hemerophobic species. Traits responded primarily to an environmental gradient of landscape diversity and field margin management. For instance, narrow field margin strips, frequent management and presence of a ditch favoured annual plants, small size at maturity and perennial plants, respectively. The second environmental gradient affecting plant traits was related to field size and intensity of in-field farming practices. On this gradient, fertilizer drift appeared to have a much stronger effect on plant trait composition of field margin strips than herbicide drift. The relationship between species richness, or functional diversity, and environment was consistent with the trait-based approach: the two former variables were negatively correlated with agriculture intensification (e.g. field size). However, this analysis also highlighted new covariates, such as a negative relationship between frequency of herbicide use and species richness. Some of the observed patterns seemed to be driven by differential responses of agrotolerant versus hemerophobic species, with the latter being more species-rich under organic than under conventional farming. Despite efforts to reduce nitrogen inputs since the 2000s, our results shows that N-fertilization still has significant nonintended effects on field margin vegetation. More generally, increasing the width of field margin strips, keeping or restoring semi-natural elements (ditches, hedges) in the field boundary, and lowering the number of management events may promote grassland plant species more typical of semi-natural habitats.

show abstract

Section: Disturbances Gradient and Naturalness Of Field Marginsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing non-intended effects of farming practices on field margin vegetation with a functional approach

Fried

Villers

Porcher

2018

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, field margins are exposed to fertilizer misplacements, which can range from 25 to 50% of the field rate in the first meter of a field margin . Fertilizer inputs encourage plant species with a high nutrient uptake and lead to changes in community composition and a lower plant diversity .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

AGROCHEMICALS IN FIELD MARGINS—ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES, AND FERTILIZER ON THE COMMON BUTTERCUP (RANUNCULUS ACRIS)

Schmitz

Schäfer

Brühl

2013

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of herbicide, insecticide, and fertilizer inputs on the common buttercup Ranunculus acris in field margins were studied in an experimental field study. The test design allowed us to investigate the single and combined effects of repeated herbicide, insecticide, and fertilizer applications in successive growing seasons. To assess the effects of the agrochemical applications on R. acris, plant community assessments were carried out and a photodocumentation of the flowering intensity was performed over two years. In addition, the authors conducted a monitoring survey of R. acris in field margins in the proximity of the study site. In the field experiment, R. acris plant density decreased significantly with treatments including fertilizer. The herbicide caused a sublethal effect by reducing flower intensity by 85%. In the long run, both effects will result in a decline of R. acris and lead to shifts in plant communities in field margins. This was confirmed by the monitoring survey, where R. acris could hardly be observed in field margins directly adjacent to cereal fields, whereas in margins next to meadows the species was recorded frequently. Besides the implications for the plants, the sublethal effects may also affect many flower-visiting insects. The results indicate that the current risk assessment for nontarget plants is insufficiently protective for wild plant species in field margins and that consideration of sublethal effects is crucial to preserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

show abstract

“…At least 3-m-wide or 5-m-wide margins are suggested to promote arable plant species, invertebrates and small mammals (De Cauwer et al, 2006b;De Snoo, 1999;Yletyinen and Norrdahl, 2007). Against this background, it can be concluded that farmers' preferences of margin widths do not significantly conflict with nature conservation requirements, apart from those in Saxony-Anhalt.…”

Section: Widthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning from farmers’ needs: Identifying obstacles to the successful implementation of field margin measures in intensive arable regions

Mante

Gerowitt

2009

Landscape and Urban Planning

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effect of margin strips on soil mineral nitrogen and plant biodiversity

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

Assessing non-intended effects of farming practices on field margin vegetation with a functional approach

Assessing non-intended effects of farming practices on field margin vegetation with a functional approach

AGROCHEMICALS IN FIELD MARGINS—ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES, AND FERTILIZER ON THE COMMON BUTTERCUP (RANUNCULUS ACRIS)

Learning from farmers’ needs: Identifying obstacles to the successful implementation of field margin measures in intensive arable regions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About