Sustainable Arable Farming For an Improved Environment (SAFFIE): managing winter wheat sward structure for Skylarks Alauda arvensis

摘要: Research has shown a close correlation between the decline of UK Skylark Alauda arvensis population and replacement spring-sown cereals with winter-sown varieties, in which advanced sward development prevents successful multiple nesting attempts reduces access for foraging. Widescale reversal sowing times is unlikely commercial reasons, so research recently focused on ways manipulating structure winter wheat to prolong nest-sites food. An RSPB pilot study investigated leaving small ‘undrilled patches’ otherwise conventionally managed crops. This option was later incorporated into fully replicated experimental design, as part Sustainable Arable Farming For an Improved Environment (SAFFIE) project. large consortium-led project aims test solutions improving biodiversity within winter-cereal-dominated rotations. The experiment described here ran over 2002–3, three field-scale ‘treatments’ 15 sites first year. treatments compare (1) conventional wheat, (2) sown double-normal width (25 cm) wide-spaced rows (WSR) (3) two 4-m by undrilled patches per hectare (UP). Results from 2002 breeding season showed that patch supported more Skylarks longer, most likely aiding accessibility WSR were little used did not improve abundance favoured seed invertebrate food items Nesting performance foraging patterns are discussed reference its accessibility, determined structure.