Abstract
Farming intensity and landscape heterogeneity influence agrobiodiversity and associated ecological functions. The relative contributions of these agroecosystem components to agricultural production remain unclear because of inter-relations and weather-dependant variations. Using a structural equation modelling approach, we estimated direct and indirect contributions of farming intensity (soil management, pesticide use and fertilisation) and landscape heterogeneity (of semi-natural covers and crop mosaic) to cereal crop production, in 54 fields (mostly wheat), in two years (24 and 30 fields). Indirect effects were evaluated through agrobiodiversity (carabid and plant communities) and ecological functions (pollination and pest control). In 2016, farming intensity had the largest direct positive effect on cereal crop yield, followed by agrobiodiversity (74% of the farming intensity impact) and ecological functions. However, the direct benefits of farming intensity were halved due to negative indirect effects, as farming intensity negatively affected within-field biodiversity and ecological functions. Overall, agrobiodiversity and farming intensity had equal net contributions to cereal crop yields, while heterogeneity of the crop mosaic enhanced biodiversity. In 2017, neither higher farming intensity nor agrobiodiversity and ecological functions could lift cereal production, which suffered from unfavourable meteorological conditions. Semi-natural habitats supported agrobiodiversity. Our study suggests that a reduction of farming intensity combined with higher heterogeneity of crop mosaic can enhance the benefits of ecological functions towards crop production. Semi-natural covers seem to play an essential role in the face of climatic events, by supporting agrobiodiversity and the potential resilience of the agroecosystem functioning.
Highlights
The worldwide model of intensive agriculture, as based on the “green revolution principles”, relies on the use of agrochemical and mechanical inputs: pesticides, mineral fertilisers, and regular and deep ploughing
It should be noted that total Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) was significantly higher in 2017 than in 2016, especially the herbicide part, probably in reaction to higher levels of plant weed cover that year (Appendix S1: Table S1)
The balance between direct and indirect effects of farming intensity on cereal production shows that the benefits may be halved
Summary
The worldwide model of intensive agriculture, as based on the “green revolution principles”, relies on the use of agrochemical and mechanical inputs: pesticides, mineral fertilisers, and regular and deep ploughing. Farmed landscapes have been simplified, experiencing loss of semi-natural covers, increase in field size and reduction in crop di versity (Benton et al, 2003; Robinson and Sutherland, 2002). Such land-use intensification and homogenisation has caused many environ mental issues (Tilman et al, 2002), including biodiversity loss in agroecosystems There is an apparent conflict between, on the one hand, the direct contribution of farming intensity and landscape simplification to crop yield, and on the other hand, their indirect harmful effects on the contribution of agrobiodiversity and related ecological functions. The relative contribution to crop yield of the direct and indirect effects of these productive factors remains unclear,
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