About

Segetal flora is in sharp decline due to the intensification of agriculture. However, as arable wild herbs make a decisive contribution to the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes, the aim of this project is to investigate the functions of rare arable wild herbs. This project will provide arguments for the protection of rare arable wild herbs and provide scientific evidence. The following ecosystem functions are being investigated on the Seidlhof Foundation's trial area in Gräfelfing and on ten practical farms in the Munich gravel plain:

1. Regulation and support: biodiversity, pollination, beneficial insects and pests, soil fertility and nutrient balance
2. Productivity: crop yield and biomass production
3. Cultural ecosystem services: landscape

Furthermore, the sowing of rare arable wild herbs for flowering areas or strips will be compared with commercial flowering mixtures. In addition to the field trials, interviews will be conducted with farmers to find out under what conditions the sowing of rare arable wild herbs would be accepted. In this way, direct recommendations for action can be formulated for the integration of arable wild herbs in nature conservation practice. Finally, a funding program analysis will show how concepts for the protection of rare arable wild herbs can be integrated into the funding frameworks of two exemplary federal states.

Partner

Bayerische KulturLandStiftung, Munich

Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture (LfL), Freising

Biobauern Nature Conservation Society, Augsburg

Dr. Stefan Meyer, Sangerhausen

Seidlhof Foundation, Gräfelfing

University of Freiburg

Publications

Twerski A, Albrecht H, Gallé R, Sauter F, Császár P, Fischer C (2023) Can rare arable plants benefit biological pest control potential of cereal aphids in croplands? – Basic and Applied Ecology 66, 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.12.003

Twerski A, Albrecht H, Fründ J, Moosner M, Fischer C (2022) Effects of rare arable plants on flower-visiting wild bees in agricultural fields. – Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 323, 107685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107685

Twerski A, Fischer C, Albrecht H (2021) Effects of rare arable plants on plant diversity, productivity and soil fertility in agricultural fields. – Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 307, 107237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107237