Bird nesting in Iowa no-tillage and tilled cropland
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Published source details
Basore N.S., Best L.B. & Wooley J.B. (1986) Bird nesting in Iowa no-tillage and tilled cropland. Journal of Wildlife Management, 1, 19-28.
Published source details Basore N.S., Best L.B. & Wooley J.B. (1986) Bird nesting in Iowa no-tillage and tilled cropland. Journal of Wildlife Management, 1, 19-28.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reduce tillage Action Link |
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Reduce tillage
A replicated, controlled study from May-July in 1982-1984 in nine experimental sites and three control sites in cropland in Iowa, USA (Basore et al. 1986), found that farmland bird species richness and nesting density and success were higher in fields without tillage. In total, 12 species were found nesting in the non-tillage fields with an average density of 36 nests/100 ha whereas only three species with an average of 4 nests/100 ha nested in tilled fields. Nest success was greatest in fields with corn residue (48% nestling survival rate). Three no-tillage treatments (corn planted in corn residue: 125 ha); corn planted in sod residue: 117 ha); and soybeans planted in corn residue: 113) and one control treatment (corn planted in tilled fields: 129 ha) were surveyed each year. Discovered nests were monitored every 2-3 days.
