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Factors influencing biodiversity within organic and conventional systems of arable farming – methodologies and preliminary results

Norton, Lisa R (2002) Factors influencing biodiversity within organic and conventional systems of arable farming – methodologies and preliminary results. In: Powell, Jane and et al. (Eds.) Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, pp. 231-236.

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Summary

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. This paper describes the approaches and preliminary results of a study that is designed to provide a large amount of data at a range of scales in order to investigate the potential factors influencing biodiversity on arable farmland on comparable organic and conventional farms. In particular, the study examines the role of non-crop habitats within the different farming systems and how the extent and management of non-crop habitats differs between them. A detailed description of the methodologies being employed to establish differences in non-crop habitat, plant, invertebrate and bird diversity is given. The study remains in its early stages as a result of the impact of Foot and Mouth disease on the fieldwork schedule during 2001. The process of setting up the study revealed that the numbers of farmers growing cereals organically are low as a proportion of the organic sector as a whole, despite recent large increases in numbers of farmers converting to organic production. Preliminary results from the first year of fieldwork on plants reveal significant differences between organic and conventional farms in terms of the numbers of weed species on fields and non-significant differences in numbers of species found on non-crop habitats.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Paper
Keywords:Colloquium of Organic Researchers; COR; biodiversity, environment, farming systems, OF0165, species richness, cereals, birds, bats, weeds, spiders, carabid beetles, hedges
Subjects:"Organics" in general
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Cereals, pulses and oilseeds
Farming Systems
Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Research affiliation: UK
UK > Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR) > COR 2002
UK > Other organizations
Related Links:https://orgprints.org/8119/
Deposited By: Powell, Ms Jane
ID Code:8413
Deposited On:23 Oct 2006
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:33
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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