The Farm4Bio project: managing uncropped land for biodiversity.

Abstract

Farm-scale studies investigated the impact of uncropped land on farmland biodiversity. Seven treatments were established across 28 sites, each c. 100 ha, in which the proportion of uncropped land, its management (project-managed, farmer-managed or organic) and spatial configuration (strips or blocks) was manipulated. Plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals were assessed over three years following two baseline years. The proportion of uncropped land (1-18%) was positively related to plant and butterfly diversity, bee density and numbers of skylarks, linnets, yellowhammers and, combined, other birds that are highly dependent on farmland. Few effects of management were detected except more weed species in the crops, lapwings, wood pigeons, skylarks, rooks and hares were found on organic compared to conventional farms. The spatial arrangement of uncropped land had relatively little impact. The type of uncropped land was important for invertebrates, notably pollinators favoured floristically enhanced grassland and project habitats overall increased farmland bird chick-food.