Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps.

Prisila A Mkenda,Patrick A Ndakidemi,Sarah E.J Arnold,Geoff M Gurr,Philip C Stevenson,Ernest Mbega,Steven R Belmain

doi:10.7717/peerj.8091

Abstract

BackgroundField margin and non-crop vegetation in agricultural systems are potential ecosystem services providers because they offer semi-natural habitats for both below and above ground animal groups such as soil organisms, small mammals, birds and arthropods that are service supplying units. They are considered as a target area for enhancing farm biodiversity.MethodologyTo explore the multiple potential benefits of these semi-natural habitats and to identify research trends and knowledge gaps globally, a review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 235 publications from the year 2000 to 2016 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases were reviewed.ResultsThe literature showed an increasing trend in the number of published articles over time with European studies leading in the proportion of studies conducted, followed by North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Several functional groups of organisms were studied from field margin and non-crop vegetation around agricultural lands including natural enemies (37%), insect pests (22%), birds (17%), pollinators (16%), soil macro fauna (4%) and small mammals (4%). Ecosystem services derived from the field margin included natural pest regulation, pollination, nutrient cycling and reduced offsite erosion. Some field margin plants were reported to host detrimental crop pests, a major ecosystem dis-service, potentially leading to increased pest infestation in the field.ConclusionThe majority of studies revealed the importance of field margin and non-crop vegetation around arable fields in enhancing ecosystem biodiversity. Promotion of field margin plants that selectively enhance the population of beneficial organisms would support sustainable food security rather than simply boosting plant diversity. Our analyses also highlight that agro-ecological studies remain largely overlooked in some regions.

Highlights

IntroductionIntensive agricultural systems are associated with negative environmental impacts, including decreased biodiversity of wild plants and animals
The world population is currently 7.7 billion (United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, 2019) and it is projected to grow to 9.5 billion in 2050 (Lal, 2015) and more than 12 billion by the end of the 21st century, with most of the increase expected to occur in Africa (Gerland et al, 2014)
It was further reported that field margins are ecologically affected by the agronomic and management practices employed within the crop land like pesticide, herbicides and fertilizer application (Alignier & Baudry, 2015; Hahn, Lenhardt & Brühl, 2014; Kang et al, 2013; Schmitz, Schäfer & Brühl, 2013; Schmitz, Hahn & Brühl, 2014; Schmitz, Schäfer & Brühl, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Intensive agricultural systems are associated with negative environmental impacts, including decreased biodiversity of wild plants and animals This can lead to increased pest damage as a result of decline in natural pest control often caused by increased chemical inputs (Jonsson et al, 2012) whilst promoting pest abundance through monoculture cropping systems (Meehan et al, 2011). Field margin and non-crop vegetation in agricultural systems are potential ecosystem services providers because they offer semi-natural habitats for both below and above ground animal groups such as soil organisms, small mammals, birds and arthropods that are service supplying units. They are considered as a target area for enhancing farm biodiversity. Promotion of field margin plants that selectively enhance the population of beneficial organisms would support sustainable food security rather than boosting plant

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