Wildlife-friendly farming increases crop yield: evidence for ecological intensification

Author(s): 
Pywell RF, Heard MS, Woodcock BA, Hinsley S, Ridding L, Nowakowski M & Bullock JM
Funders: 
Defra, Natural England, Syngenta, NERC
Organisation: 
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology & Wildlife Farming Company
Date: 
October 2015
Copyright: 
Creative Commons Licence
Evidence: 
Academic research
Related theme: 
Pests & diseases
Cereals, oil seeds & pulses
Pollinators & ecological services
Biodiversity
Key Farming Practices: 
Biological control
Habitat creation

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Resource explained: 

This paper describes a 6-year experiment on a UK intensive conventional arable farm which assessed the effect of converting a small proportion of less-productive land into a wild-life friendly habitat. It was undertaken by NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology with the Wildlife Farming Company. Two different ‘wildlife enhancement’ treatments (removing land at the field edges from production to create wildlife habitat) were compared with the effect of a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) intensive conventional arable rotation (where no land was removed). They found that over a 5-year period, the average yield for all crops within the rotation (wheat, oilseed rape and beans) was significantly enhanced by creation of wildlife habitats on 3% of land. This yield was further increased by creation of habitat on 8% of land. There was also an increase in abundance of pollinators and predatory beetles in the fields where 8% of land was converted to a wildlife-friendly habitat.

Findings & recommendations: 
  • Within the experiment the continuation of conventional intensive farming in which no land was removed from production ('BAU') was compared with:
    • A simple habitat enhancement that was the equivalent to ‘Entry level Stewardship’ (ELS) agri-environment scheme (removing 3% of the less productive cropping land).
    • The ‘ELS extra’ (ELSX) which had 8% of cropped land taken out of production. and included additional wildlife habitats.
  • Over the 6 years, there was no net loss of yield at field level in the removal of up to 8% of land.
  • It took about 4 years for the beneficial effects on crop yield to become apparent and these appeared to strengthen with time. This may reflect the time taken for populations of beneficial insects to respond to wildlife-friendly farming.
  • Abundance and species diversity of crop pollinators was significantly higher in ELSX fields than either ELS or BAU. There was no difference between ELS and BAU.
  • Abundance of predatory ground beetles was higher in ELSX fields compared to the others.
  • The paper highlights that farmer training may be necessary to deliver more demanding and complex wildlife habitats.
Summary provided by: 
Pen Rashbass

More about the organisation

Natural England

partner Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. We are here to secure a healthy natural environment for people to enjoy, where wildlife is protected and England's traditional landscapes are safeguarded for future generations.  The Gov.UK website is the source of current government guidance.

DEFRA

partner Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the UK’s world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Defra’s broad remit means the department plays a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

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