Instant Insights: Biodiversity Management Practices

This collection of peer-reviewed literature reviews explores biodiversity management practices in agriculture, including Conservation Agriculture, grass hedges, modifying the agricultural landscape, and the impact of agricultural intensification on biodiversity. It highlights the importance of soil microorganisms, grass hedges, field margins, and hedgerows in promoting insect biodiversity and rare arable plant populations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 126 pages
Publication date: 19 April 2022
Publisher: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited

This comprehensive collection presents four peer-reviewed literature reviews on biodiversity management practices in agriculture. In the first chapter, the authors delve into the realm of biodiversity management practices and their remarkable benefits within Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems. They explore the significance of soil microorganisms and shed light on how CA systems foster soil biological activity, particularly through the incorporation of cover crops, rotations, and a no-till regime. These practices enrich the soil and support a diverse array of organisms, contributing to the overall health and productivity of agricultural landscapes.

The second chapter focuses on grass hedges and their soil-enhancing properties. The authors compile and analyze published research to understand the potential of grass hedges in managing water erosion and improving soil health in agricultural lands. They discuss the characteristics and types of field margins, emphasizing their role in agroecosystems and their potential for promoting insect biodiversity and rare arable plant populations.

The third chapter delves into the topic of modifying the agricultural landscape to reverse the decline in a range of fauna and flora. The authors review research on various strategies for landscape restoration, including the creation of diverse field margins. They explore the characteristics and functions of these margins, including their role in providing habitat for beneficial organisms and enhancing ecosystem services.

The final chapter examines the impact of agricultural intensification on agricultural landscapes, farming systems, and biodiversity. The authors highlight the multifunctionality of hedgerows within intensively managed agricultural landscapes, emphasizing their contribution to improved pest regulation and enhanced pollination services. They discuss how hedgerows can contribute to the overall sustainability and resilience of agroecosystems.

Overall, this collection provides valuable insights into biodiversity management practices in agriculture, highlighting the importance of soil microorganisms, cover crops, rotations, and hedgerows in promoting soil health, mitigating water erosion, and enhancing ecosystem services. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to promote biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801464024