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Imprint
Nature conservation by organic farming: Restoration of local populations of rare and endangered arable field plants on organic farms in Germany
Project
Project code: 2806OE355
Contract period: 01.01.2011
- 30.04.2015
Budget: 113,734 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Abundance and diversity of arable weeds have been strongly declining in many European regions. The main factors for reduced agro-biodiversity are herbicides, fertilizer treatments and other practices of modern agricultural management. In response to this biodiversity crisis several programs have been launched. A successful program was the field margins concept, but due to bureaucratic obstacles and short periods of agro-environmental schemes it has been abandoned in most parts of Germany. Arable weeds are highly dependent on the respective type of management, and thus future programs for conservation of rare arable weeds have to establish a close and innovative integration with sustainable farming practice. It is the aim of the current proposal to develop applied scientific knowledge on new methods for conservation of arable weeds within farming systems. The past decades have shown that species diversity is usually higher on organic farms, and that these farmers are more willing to support endangered arable weeds in their fields. However, remnant populations of the species are often not present on the respective farms, thus calling for transplantation from nearby populations. This type of restoration of agro-biodiversity will be explored by the research project. A survey has already shown the interest and the willingness of organic farmers to adopt such measures. Two complementary research teams in contrasting regions in Germany will test different approaches to reestablish arable weeds under various management systems and with different preconditions. The farmers’ practical knowledge will be included in a participatory approach. Two PhD theses will result from the project, but it is likely that a number of masters projects will be associated. The results will be communicated to organic farmers and conservation authorities, and they will be discussed within agroecological networks in Germany but also published in international ecological journals. The project 2806OE356 is carried out by the Chair of Restoration Ecology, Technische Universität München in cooperation with the Bavarian Agricultural Research Institute (LfL), Institute of Agro-Ecology, Organic Farming and Soil Protection (project 2806OE355) and the University of Kassel, Department of Organic Farming and Cropping Systems (Witzen-hausen) (project 2806OE254). The contribution of the Technische Universität München and the Bavarian Agricultural Research Institute consists of multifactorial field experiments and statistical analyses to investigate the potential and possible limitations for re-establishing three rare arable weeds on selected organic farms in the greater Munich area. The species we have chosen are Consolida regalis, Legousia speculum-veneris and Lithospermum arvense. They do not cause weed infestation problems and produce seeds in sufficient quantities. The project will focus on effects of crop rotation, soil tillage, sowing density and the optimal time for successful establishment of the target species. The results will be synthesized in a modeling approach that will allow prediction of population dynamics over longer periods. The Technische Universität München supervises the field experiments. The scientific parts of the data collection will be done in cooperation with the Department of Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
