Management of permanent set-aside on arable land in Sweden
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Published source details
Hansson M. & Fogelfors H. (1998) Management of permanent set-aside on arable land in Sweden. Journal of Applied Ecology, 35, 758-771.
Published source details Hansson M. & Fogelfors H. (1998) Management of permanent set-aside on arable land in Sweden. Journal of Applied Ecology, 35, 758-771.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland Action Link |
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Reduce fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide use generally Action Link |
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Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland
A replicated controlled study of former arable fields at six sites in Sweden (Hansson & Fogelfors 1998) found twice as many plant species in unfertilized compared to fertilized set-aside after 10 years (30 species in the least fertile site; 10 in the most fertile). Annual cutting resulted in an increased number of species over the years. The competitive success of plant species was related to management practices but there were also interactions between management and site conditions. At each site, two plots (10 x 20 m) were sown with a grass cover crop and two were left bare. Each year, one of each pair had fertilizer added (equivalent to 150 kg N/ha) and half of every plot was cut and cuttings removed (late July). Vegetation cover was assessed in the centre of each plot (8 x 1 m²; 1975-1986).
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Reduce fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide use generally
A replicated controlled study of former arable fields at six sites in Sweden (Hansson & Fogelfors 1998) found that after 10 years, there were twice as many plant species in unfertilized compared to fertilized set-aside (30 species in the least fertile site, 10 in the most fertile). Cutting and planting a cover crop also had a positive effect on the number of plant species. At each site, two plots (10 x 20 m) were sown with a grass cover crop and two were left bare. Each year, one of each pair had fertilizer added (equivalent to 150 kg N/ha) and half of every plot was cut and cuttings removed (late July). Vegetation cover was assessed in the centre of each plot (8 x 1 m²) in 1975-1986.
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