Effects of manipulating crop architecture on weed and arthropod diversity in winter wheat.

Abstract

The effect of novel habitat management on weed cover and arthropod abundance was investigated as part of the SAFFIE project. Wide-spaced rows and undrilled patches were introduced into whole wheat fields in a fully randomised block experiment. There was little effect of the experimental treatments on weed abundance and arthropod bird food and considerable between-year differences. Within individual fields, the abundance of arthropods differed between the undrilled patches and the surrounding crop; in 2002 patches were well colonised by weeds and associated arthropods. However, in 2003 vegetation cover in the patches was low and colonisation of the patches by arthropods was minimal. Plant-arthropod analyses suggest that a higher establishment of weeds would benefit the arthropod community. Despite these results, undrilled patches have been shown to benefit breeding skylarks; it is thought that undrilled patches may function beneficially by providing increased access to food and nesting habitat.