Strip cropping increases the number of slugs and slug predators, but crop damage does not increase

Strip cropping is a farming method in which different crops are grown in adjacent strips in the same field rather than in a field with a single crop (monoculture). This approach can increase biodiversity and help control insect pests, but it is not well understood how strip cropping influences pest slugs. We compared on 20 farms in the Netherlands slugs and their invertebrate predators in … Continue reading Strip cropping increases the number of slugs and slug predators, but crop damage does not increase

Strokenteelt verhoogt het aantal naaktslakken en predatoren van naaktslakken, maar gewasschade neemt niet toe

Strokenteelt is een landbouwmethode waarbij verschillende gewassen naast elkaar in stroken worden geteeld in plaats van in grote percelen met één enkel gewas (monocultuur). Deze aanpak kan de biodiversiteit vergroten en helpen bij de bestrijding van insectenplagen, maar het effect op schadelijke naaktslakken was tot nu toe onduidelijk. Wij onderzochten 20 Nederlandse bedrijven en vergeleken de dichtheid van naaktslakken en hun ongewervelde predatoren in strokenteeltpercelen … Continue reading Strokenteelt verhoogt het aantal naaktslakken en predatoren van naaktslakken, maar gewasschade neemt niet toe

Fertilising with nutrient residues: a short-sighted solution for semi-natural grassland productivity?

Lauri Laanisto discusses their recent Commentary, Fertilising semi‐natural grasslands may cause long‐term negative effects on both biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Community ecology was once famously described as ‘collecting stamps’ by John Lawton, as every community is so different and unique in so many ways. Therefore, instead of making generalisations, one can only study unique communities the way a collector studies their unique collection – a very … Continue reading Fertilising with nutrient residues: a short-sighted solution for semi-natural grassland productivity?

Taxonomic and functional diversity in Mediterranean pastures: Insights on the biodiversity – productivity trade-off

In this post Victor Rolo discusses his recent paper ‘Taxonomic and functional diversity in Mediterranean pastures: Insights on the biodiversity – productivity trade-off ‘ There is a shepherds’ saying in Spain that goes: “below a shrub, you can raise a lamb”. But, if that were true, why is the presence of semi-natural features perceived as a negative element for herbage productivity in grasslands? The answer … Continue reading Taxonomic and functional diversity in Mediterranean pastures: Insights on the biodiversity – productivity trade-off