A global synthesis reveals biodiversity-mediated benefits for crop production

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(10)

Published: Oct. 11, 2019

Human land use threatens global biodiversity and compromises multiple ecosystem functions critical to food production. Whether crop yield-related services can be maintained by a few dominant species or rely on high richness remains unclear. Using database from 89 studies (with 1475 locations), we partition the relative importance of richness, abundance, dominance for pollination; biological pest control; final yields in context ongoing land-use change. Pollinator enemy directly supported addition independent abundance dominance. Up 50% negative effects landscape simplification was due losses service-providing organisms, with consequences yields. Maintaining service providers is therefore vital sustain flow key agroecosystem benefits society.

Language: Английский

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Soil carbon sequestration accelerated by restoration of grassland biodiversity

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Feb. 12, 2019

Abstract Agriculturally degraded and abandoned lands can remove atmospheric CO 2 sequester it as soil organic matter during natural succession. However, this process may be slow, requiring a century or longer to re-attain pre-agricultural carbon levels. Here, we find that restoration of late-successional grassland plant diversity leads accelerating annual storage rates that, by the second period (years 13–22), are 200% greater in our highest treatment than succession at site, 70% monocultures. The higher 13–22) associated with aboveground production root biomass period, presence multiple species, especially C4 grasses legumes. Our results suggest high greatly increase capture on agricultural lands.

Language: Английский

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A global meta-analysis of yield stability in organic and conservation agriculture

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: Sept. 3, 2018

Abstract One of the primary challenges our time is to enhance global food production and security. Most assessments in agricultural systems focus on plant yield. Yet, these analyses neglect temporal yield stability, or variability reliability across years. Here we perform a meta-analysis assess stability three major cropping systems: organic agriculture conservation (no-tillage) vs. conventional agriculture, comparing 193 studies based 2896 comparisons. Organic has, per unit yield, significantly lower (−15%) compared agriculture. Thus, although farming promotes biodiversity generally more environmentally friendly, future efforts should reducing its variability. Our analysis further indicates that use green manure enhanced fertilisation can reduce gap between The (−3%) no-tillage does not differ from those tillage indicating transition affect stability.

Language: Английский

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Beyond organic farming – harnessing biodiversity-friendly landscapes

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 36(10), P. 919 - 930

Published: Aug. 3, 2021

Biodiversity continues to decline rapidly, despite decades of repeated national and international policy efforts. Agricultural intensification is a major driver biodiversity losses, while conversion organic farming has been suggested as key technique halt or reverse this trend.In contrast widespread view, certified agriculture raises local richness species by just third when compared conventional farming. This achieved through waiving synthetic agrochemicals, but leads considerable yield requiring the more land obtain similar yields.Diversifying cropland reducing field size on landscape level can multiply in both without productivity.Complementing such increases heterogeneity with at least 20% seminatural habitat per should be recommendation current frameworks. We challenge appraisal that fundamental alternative for harnessing agricultural landscapes. Certification production largely restricted banning resulting limited benefits high losses ongoing specialisation. In contrast, successful measures enhance include diversifying size, which sustaining yields systems. Achieving landscape-level mosaic natural patches fine-grained diversification promoting large-scale biodiversity. needs urgently acknowledged makers an paradigm shift. decline, implementation conservation conventions, Convention Biological Diversity (1992), UN Decade (2011–2020), many other schemes, had little success [1.Kleijn D. et al.Does farmland contribute halting decline?.Trends Ecol. Evol. 2011; 26: 474-481Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar,2.Pe'er G. al.Adding some green greening: improving EU's ecological focus areas farmers.Conserv. Lett. 2017; 10: 517-530Crossref Scholar]. Agriculture considered main cause global [3.Sánchez-Bayo F. Wyckhuys K.A.G. Worldwide entomofauna: A review its drivers.Biol. Conserv. 2019; 232: 8-27Crossref (919) Scholar, 4.Seibold S. al.Arthropod grasslands forests associated drivers.Nature. 574: 671-674Crossref (306) 5.Lichtenberg E.M. al.A synthesis effects diversified systems arthropod diversity within fields across landscapes.Glob. Chang. Biol. 23: 4946-4957Crossref (123) Scholar], objectives still collide FAO calls higher crop feed world [6.Tscharntke T. al.Global food security, future intensification.Biol. 2012; 151: 53-59Crossref (1050) The model intensification, based agrochemical inputs, large monocultures homogenisation, successfully increased yields, severe ecosystem services, even neighbouring nature reserves Scholar,5.Lichtenberg 6.Tscharntke 7.Kormann U. al.Local management drive trait-mediated nine taxa small grassland fragments.Divers. Distrib. 2015; 21: 1204-1217Crossref (62) Current trends only reversed concerted effort fundamentally redesign landscapes [8.Landis D.A. Designing biodiversity-based services.Basic Appl. 18: 1-12Crossref (262) 9.Grass I. al.Land-sharing/-sparing connectivity services conservation.People Nat. 1: 262-272Google 10.Grass al.Combining land-sparing land-sharing European landscapes.Adv. Res. 2021; 64: 251-303Crossref (14) Scholar]; is, shift agriculture. Certified farming, agrochemicals [11.Seufert V. Ramankutty N. Many shades gray – context-dependent performance agriculture.Sci. Adv. 3e1602638Crossref Scholar] achieve sustainability general particular, often claimed [12.Niggli Sustainability production: challenges innovations.Proc. Nutr. Soc. 74: 83-88Crossref (39) 13.Bosshard A. International Federation Organic Movements IFOAM Guide Landscape Quality Agriculture. IFOAM, 2009Google 14.Geiger al.Persistent negative pesticides biological control potential farmland.Basic 2010; 11: 97-105Crossref (724) However, contribution stop appears exaggerated public perception [15.Hole D.G. benefit biodiversity?.Biol. 2005; 122: 113-130Crossref Scholar,16.Schneider M.K. al.Gains organically farmed are not propagated farm level.Nat. Commun. 2014; 5: 4151Crossref (64) fact, switching from practices [17.Tuck S.L. al.Land-use intensity biodiversity: hierarchical meta-analysis.J. 51: 746-755Crossref (367) so needed produce same amount Scholar,18.Meemken E.-M. Qaim M. agriculture, environment.Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 2018; 39-63Crossref (82) Surprisingly, wealth biodiversity-friendly implemented have far poorly adopted [19.Kleijn al.Ecological intensification: bridging gap between science practice.Trends 34: 154-166Abstract (147) 20.Sirami C. al.Increasing enhances multitrophic regions.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 116: 16442-16447Crossref 21.Batary P. al.Landscape-moderated importance hedges conserving bird vs. croplands grasslands.Biol. 143: 2020-2027Crossref (102) 22.Haan N.L. al.Designing arthropod-based North America.Adv. 191-250Crossref (1) 23.Boetzl F.A. multitaxa assessment effectiveness agri-environmental schemes management.Proc. 118: 1-9Crossref (3) Here, we restoring After considering essential propose effective solutions towards friendly ways integrate scales existing well policies. On average, world's crops ~34% abundance ~50% Scholar,24.Bengtsson J. al.The abundance: 42: 261-269Crossref Scholar,25.Smith O.M. al.Landscape context affects systems.Proc. 2020; 117: 2870-2878Crossref (12) plants bees benefitting most arthropods birds smaller degree Benefits also vary type strives environmental benefits, soil fertility biodiversity, prohibits fertilisers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms Scholar,12.Niggli Scholar,26.Mäder al.Soil farming.Science. 2002; 296: 1694-1697Crossref (1744) replacement herbicides mechanical weeding important conservation, because weed cover [27.Roschewitz complexity arable farming.J. 873-882Crossref (283) 28.Clough Y. al.Alpha beta conventionally managed wheat fields.J. 2007; 44: 804-812Crossref (143) 29.Holzschuh al.Agricultural support pollinator diversity.Oikos. 2008; 354-361Crossref 30.Batáry former Iron Curtain drives biodiversity-profit trade-offs German agriculture.Nat. 1279-1284Crossref (69) Practices diversification, fields, manure, low fertiliser input, restoration elements recommended organisations prevalent than farms [31.Fuller R.J. al.Benefits among taxa.Biol. 431-434Crossref (209) Scholar,32.Holzschuh al.Diversity flower-visiting cereal fields: system, composition regional context.J. 41-49Crossref they formal part certification regulations [33.Tscharntke al.Conserving tropical agroforestry scales.Conserv. 8: 14-23Crossref Mainstreaming public, pushed policies NGO activities, play role success, empathy trust schemes. Lastly, products profitable farmers, consumers, governments, pay premium prices Scholar,30.Batáry Scholar,34.Reganold J.P. Wachter J.M. twenty-first century.Nat. Plants. 2016; 2: 1-8Crossref (464) there limitations reduced misconceptions about pesticide use, taxon-specific commercial production. While waste meat consumption security lower additional obstacles [35.Gabriel al.Food comparing agriculture.J. 2013; 50: 355-364Crossref (134) When measured unit necessary defined output (e.g., number kilograms produced) simply hectare wheat), disappear [10.Grass Scholar,36.Kremen Reframing land-sparing/land-sharing debate conservation.Ann. 1355: 52-76Crossref (207) Globally all crops, 19–25% [18.Meemken Vegetables cereals show highest gaps [37.Seufert al.Comparing agriculture.Nature. 485: 229-232Crossref (1006) up 50% decrease [30.Batáry Scholar,35.Gabriel however, fruits oilseed Moreover, it myth principally waive pesticides. Pesticides allowed under labels long derived substances rather ones Widespread insecticides used pyrethrin, chrysanthemum, azadirachtin Asian neem tree. Copper sulfate applied cope fungal bacterial diseases, example, vineyards, orchards, vegetables [38.Nascimbene al.Organic plant vineyard located intensive landscapes.Environ. Manag. 49: 1054-1060Crossref (38) persistent accumulates soils [39.Tamm L. al.Reduktion von Pflanzenschutzmitteln der Schweiz: Beitrag des Biolandbaus.Agrarforschung Schweiz. 52–59Google Natural do much damage [40.Biondi al.Using organic-certified may safer agents: selectivity side 14 predator Orius laevigatus.Chemosphere. 87: 803-812Crossref (305) vast majority rarely treated potatoes, vegetables, hops, grapes, regularly heavily For instance, spraying grapes apples shown less Scholar,39.Tamm Overall, suggests smart application strategies use Integrated Pest Pollinator Management techniques) regardless [14.Geiger Scholar,41.Tscharntke al.When fails pest Five hypotheses.Biol. 204: 449-458Crossref (241) Scholar,42.Müller Impacts sublethal insecticide exposure insects facts knowledge gaps.Basic 30: 1-10Crossref (56) Similarly, harmful overfertilisation occurs mineral manure [43.Klimek al.Additive partitioning respect regime, fertilisation abiotic factors.Basic 9: 626-634Crossref (45) Importantly, spectrum [5.Lichtenberg Scholar,44.Forrest J.R.K. al.Contrasting patterns functional-trait landscape.J. 52: 706-715Crossref noncrop due missing herbicides, whereas mobile, landscape-dependent insect populations Furthermore, applications common great habitats. These habitats hedges, herbaceous boundaries, traditional, uneconomic agroecosystems calcareous orchard meadows [21.Batary Scholar,45.Weibull A.-C. butterflies landscape: system heterogeneity.Ecography. 2000; 743-750Crossref meta-analysis agrienvironment found off-field measures, margins hedgerows, twice in-field [46.Batáry agri-environment management.Conserv. 29: 1006-1016Crossref (419) diversity, butterfly [45.Weibull Increasing hedge length 250 m one 12 species, increasingly intensified, specialised, away idealism enthusiasm original movement (Figure 1). family characterised beginning movement, modern huge monocultures, resembling fields. come sterile greenhouse blocks cultures plastic sheets, covering entire Almeria Province (Spain) heart Europe's where >50% grown proportion increasing over last decade 1.4% 10.3% [47.Dundas Farming "Supersized": An Imperfect Solution Planet?.2019Google Further examples landscape-damaging produced blocks, favourably doubling extending growing seasons, cost [48.Chang greenhouses beyond supply?.Front. Environ. 43-49Crossref above suggest silver bullet Diversifying pollination, Scholar,49.Rosa-Schleich al.Ecological-economic Diversified Systems review.Ecol. 160: 251-263Crossref (41) Scholar,50.Tamburini promotes multiple compromising yield.Sci. 6eaba1715Crossref (Table 1 Table 2). land, particular Europe America, shaped short rotations simplify techniques specialise best-selling products. Diverse dominated after maize maize), three standard sequences wheat, barley, rape [51.Steinmann H.-H. Dobers E.S. Spatio-temporal analysis sequence Northern Germany: implications health protection.J. Plant Dis. Prot. 120: 85-94Crossref (37) Scholar,52.Bennett A.J. al.Meeting demand rotations.Biol. 52-71Crossref (247) Scholar]). simplified deplete soils, promote infestations, resistance applications, risk resource bottlenecks pollinators biocontrol agents [53.Schellhorn N.A. al.Time will tell: continuity bolsters services.Trends 524-530Abstract (133) increase declines [52.Bennett provided mixed pattern alone combined practices, wildflower strips, effectively stability pollination 54.Rundlöf al.Late-season mass-flowering red clover bumble bee queen male densities.Biol. 172: 138-145Crossref 55.Westphal al.Mass flowering improves early colony growth sexual reproduction bumblebees.J. 2009; 46: 187-193Crossref Globally, 15% longer (4.5 instead 3.8 years). Still, average 48% [56.Barbieri farming.Sci. Rep. 7: Diversification multicropping reduce 8–9% [57.Ponisio L.C. al.Diversification gap.Proc. R. B 282: 20141396Crossref could longer, 7-year period [26.Mäder uptake [58.Seufert al.Current contributions system.Agroecosyst. Divers. 2019: 435-452Crossref (7) Instead, trend intensify Scholar,59.Garibaldi L.A. Pérez-Méndez Positive outcomes employment worldwide.Ecol. 164: 106358Crossref (18) Scholar].Table 1Biodiversity scales, illustrated meta-analyses syntheses showing quantified estimatesMeasuresQuantified findingsRefsLocal scaleOff-field vs measuresMeasures areas, roughly enhancing richnes

Language: Английский

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Integrated pest management: good intentions, hard realities. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 41(3)

Published: May 11, 2021

Abstract Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides an illustration of how crop protection has (or not) evolved over the past six decades. Throughout this period, IPM endeavored to promote sustainable forms agriculture, pursued sharp reductions in synthetic pesticide use, and thereby resolved myriad socio-economic, environmental, human health challenges. Global use has, however, largely continued unabated, with negative implications for farmer livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, right food. In review, we examine developed time assess whether concept remains suited present-day We believe that despite many good intentions, hard realities need be faced. 1) identify following major weaknesses: i) a multitude definitions generate unnecessary confusion; ii) inconsistencies between concepts, practice, policies; iii) insufficient engagement farmers technology development frequent lack basic understanding its underlying ecological concepts. 2) By diverting from fundamental principles, integration practices proceeded along serendipitous routes, proven ineffective, yielded unacceptable outcomes. 3) show majority cases, chemical control still basis plant programs. 4) Furthermore, research is often lagging, tends misguided, pays attention ecology functioning agroecosystems. 5) Since 1960s, rules have been twisted, foundational concepts degraded serious (farm-level) implementation not advanced. To remedy this, are proposing Agroecological Crop Protection as captures agroecology can optimally put service protection. constitutes interdisciplinary scientific field comprises orderly strategy (and clear prioritization) at field, farm, agricultural landscape level dimension social organizational ecology.

Language: Английский

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Positive but variable effects of crop diversification on biodiversity and ecosystem services

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(19), P. 4697 - 4710

Published: June 11, 2021

Abstract Ecological theory suggests that biodiversity has a positive and stabilizing effect on the delivery of ecosystem services. Yet, impacts increasing diversity cultivated crop species or varieties in agroecosystems are still under scrutiny. The available empirical evidence is scattered scope, agronomic geographic contexts, services may depend type diversification strategy used. To robustly assess effects agroecosystems, we compiled results 95 meta‐analyses integrating 5156 experiments conducted over 84 experimental years representing more than 54,500 paired observations 120 85 countries. Overall, our synthesis data from across globe shows enhances not only production (median +14%) but also associated (+24%, i.e., non‐cultivated plants animals), several supporting regulating including water quality (+51%), pest disease control (+63%) soil (+11%). However, there was substantial variability for each individual service between different strategies such as agroforestry, intercropping, cover crops, rotation variety mixtures. Agroforestry particularly effective delivering multiple services, is, regulation quality, diseases regulation, biodiversity, long‐term productivity quality. Variety mixtures, instead, provide lowest benefits, whereas other show intermediate results. Our highlight while represents very promising sustainable land management, contributing to enhanced yields, some others key

Language: Английский

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Land‐sharing/‐sparing connectivity landscapes for ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(2), P. 262 - 272

Published: April 29, 2019

Abstract The land‐sharing versus land‐sparing debate recently stagnated, lacking an integrating perspective in agricultural landscapes as well consideration of ecosystem services. Here, we argue that (i.e. wildlife‐friendly farming systems) and separation high‐yielding agriculture natural habitats) are not mutually exclusive, both needed to balance management needs for the multifunctionality landscapes. Land‐sharing promotes services settings, thereby allowing environmentally friendly production. Land set aside protected areas by is crucial conservation those species incompatible with agriculture. Importantly, move throughout landscape exploit different habitats, increased connectivity between managed (a) promote spillover service providers from land‐sharing/‐sparing measures production rescue service‐providing extinction hostile areas, (b) facilitate immigration counteract possible extinctions spared habitats (c) conserve response diversity communities ensuring resilience changing environments. In conclusion, successful multifunctional requires combination context‐specific within spatially well‐connected mosaics, resulting A plain language summary available this article.

Language: Английский

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Diverse approaches to crop diversification in agricultural research. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 40(2)

Published: April 1, 2020

Abstract Agricultural intensification increased crop productivity but simplified production with lower diversity of cropping systems, higher genetic uniformity, and a uniformity agricultural landscapes. Associated detrimental effects on the environment biodiversity as well resilience adaptability systems to climate change are growing concern. Crop diversification may stabilize reduce negative environmental impacts loss biodiversity, shared understanding including approaches towards more systematic research is lacking. Here, we review use ‘crop diversification’ measures in research. We (i) analyse changes studies over time; (ii) identify practices based empirical studies; (iii) differentiate their by country, species experimental setup (iv) target parameters assess success diversification. Our main findings that (1) less than 5% selected refer our search term ‘diversification’; (2) half focused rice, corn or wheat; (3) 76% experiments were conducted India, USA, Canada, Brazil China; (4) almost any arable was tested its suitability for diversification; (5) 72% diversification, at least one additional agronomic measure (6) only 45% analysed agronomic, economic ecological variables. show high variability lack consistent theoretical concept. For better comparability ability generalise results different primary studies, suggest novel conceptual framework. It consists five elements, definition problem existing farming potential need characterisation baseline system be diversified, scale area, description design variables (v) expected impacts. Applying this framework will contribute utilizing benefits efficiently.

Language: Английский

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Mitigating the precipitous decline of terrestrial European insects: Requirements for a new strategy

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 28(6), P. 1343 - 1360

Published: March 22, 2019

Language: Английский

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Give predators a complement: Conserving natural enemy biodiversity to improve biocontrol

Biological Control, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 135, P. 73 - 82

Published: April 27, 2019

Natural enemy biodiversity reflects both the number of species attacking pests (species richness) and their relative abundances evenness). Recent experimental work suggests that greater might lead to stronger pest suppression when natural enemies occupy different, complementary feeding niches. Complementarity can arise from different or stages located in places at times, and/or use hunting strategies. However, these benefits be weakened predators diverse predator communities kill one another, which is more likely simple foraging environments including few prey species. Here, I review our growing understanding agroecosystems while suggesting a range approaches conservation biological control (CBC) practitioners deploy specifically encourage complementarity dampen interference. For example, mixing crop allowing residue remain fields increases diversity complexity environment, are increase partitioning diet- spatial-niches among species, making intraguild predation less likely. Habitat management alongside likewise designed include elements attractive taxa fill niches, explicitly engineering bring together enemies. refuge strips could bunch grasses provide predatory beetles spiders forage on ground, flowers generalist parasitoids plant foliage. Caution warranted however, as general enrichment build trophic dampens overall herbivore suppression. Altogether, approach suggested here consistent with realization CBC efforts simultaneously multiple ecosystem services will most adopted by growers. Furthermore, projects an opportunity examine whether effects demonstrated cages other arenas real-world for control, advancing biodiversity-ecosystem relationships generally. Perhaps clearest challenges extending what known about effects, enhancement through CBC, species-rich tropical agroecosystems.

Language: Английский

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