Management of stubble-Set-aside for invertebrates important in the diet of breeding farmland birds.

Abstract

The direct effect of three cutting regimes (uncut, topped and cut) on set-aside natural regeneration stubble were compared for beneficial invertebrates important as food for young birds in June-July, These regimes were also compared to a cereal (winter wheat), the main invertebrate habitat set-aside has replaced. Set-aside generally had significantly greater numbers of Araneae and Hemiptera, with winter wheat having more Coleoptera. Significant reductions occurred for most groups on cut fields compared to uncut and topped. The implications of these differences in food availability are discussed in relation to the greater weed cover and species diversity found on set-aside.