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Legume Based Plant Mixtures for Delivery of Multiple Ecosystem Services: weed diversity and weed control

Döring, Thomas F.; Storkey, Jonathan; Baddeley, J. A.; Crowley, Oliver; Howlett, S. A.; McCalman, Heather; Pearce, Helen; Roderick, Stephen and Jones, H E (2012) Legume Based Plant Mixtures for Delivery of Multiple Ecosystem Services: weed diversity and weed control. In: McCracken, K (Ed.) Agriculture and the Environment IX, Valuing Ecosystems: Policy, Economic and Management Interactions, pp. 169-174.

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Summary

Legume-based leys offer multiple benefits to ecosystem service provision, e.g. protecting soil and supporting pollinators. While weeds can play an antagonistic role during ley establishment, little is known about weed communities in these leys or about the optimal solutions for weed control in the establishment phase. To determine if the choice of ley species affects weed levels, we conducted field trials at six locations in the UK, measuring weed cover and biomass in monoculture plots of 12 legume and 4 grass species, plus an all species mix over two years. In these trials and in additional on-farm trials, weed cover and diversity were lower in the second than in the first year, owing to a decrease of annual weeds over time. The ability of a diverse species mixture to suppress weed development was higher than the average of its component legume and grass species. This might in part be attributed to the complementary effects of species with different growth patterns in the mixture.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Paper
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems > Pasture and forage crops
Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Crop husbandry > Weed management
Research affiliation: UK > Univ. Aberystwyth > Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)
UK > Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
UK > Duchy College
UK > Organic Research Centre (ORC)
UK > Rothamsted Research (RES)
UK > Scottish Rural Colleges (SRUC - previously SAC)
ISBN:1 85482 996 3
Deposited By: Crowley, Mr O
ID Code:20716
Deposited On:19 Apr 2012 13:04
Last Modified:11 Jun 2021 07:57
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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