The Farm4Bio project: maximising the potential of uncropped land.

Abstract

The project's aim is to determine whether management of uncropped land for biodiversity on conventional arable farms can achieve significant and measurable increases in biodiversity, that are at least equivalent to those attained on organic farms. Baseline assessments in (06/07) allowed the effect of the project sown habitats to be interpreted in the context of wider landscape drivers. Plant species richness was positively related to the heterogeneity of uncropped land and butterfly and bumble bee diversity in the margins were positively related to the area of uncropped land in the 100 ha study area. In 2008/09, the project treatments increased plant, bumblebee and butterfly diversity in line with these relationships. Numbers of seed eating birds were positively related to the area of uncropped land in the 100 ha study area. Species-specific responses were also found, but overall at least 4% uncropped land within the study area was needed to cause an increase in bird numbers.