Does organic grassland farming benefit plant and arthropod diversity at the expense of yield and soil fertility?

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Volumn 177, Issue , 2013, Pages 1-9

  Klaus, Valentin H ^a   Kleinebecker, Till ^a   Prati, Daniel ^b   Gossner, Martin M ^c   Alt, Fabian ^d   Boch, Steffen ^b   Gockel, Sonja ^c   Hemp, Andreas ^e   Lange, Markus ^f   Müller, Jörg ^g   Oelmann, Yvonne ^d   Pašalić, Esther ^f   Renner, Swen C ^h   Socher, Stephanie A ^b   Türke, Manfred ^c   Weisser, Wolfgang W ^c   Fischer, Markus ^b,g   Hölzel, Norbert ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MÜNSTER   (Germany)

^b UNIVERSITY OF BERN   (Switzerland)

^c TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH   (Germany)

^d UNIVERSITY OF TÜBINGEN   (Germany)

^e UNIVERSITY OF BAYREUTH   (Germany)

^f FRIEDRICH SCHILLER UNIVERSITY JENA   (Germany)

^g UNIVERSITY OF POTSDAM   (Germany)

^h UNIVERSITY OF ULM   (Germany)

Author keywords

Agri environmental schemes; Biomass nutrient concentrations; Fertilization; Fodder quality; Land use intensity; Nitrogen; Nutrient availability; Organic farming; Phosphorus; Species richness

Indexed keywords

AGRICULTURAL LAND; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; GRASSLAND; INSECT; INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE; MEADOW; NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY; ORGANIC FARMING; PASTURE; PHOSPHORUS; SEED DISPERSAL; SOIL FERTILITY; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; SPECIES DIVERSITY; SPECIES RICHNESS; TAXONOMY;

GERMANY;

EID: 84879833959     PISSN: 01678809     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.05.019     Document Type: Article

References (65)

1. Albrecht M., Schmid B., Obrist M.K., Schüpbach B., Kleijn D., Duelli P. Effects of ecological compensation meadows on arthropod diversity in adjacent intensively managed grassland. Biol. Conserv. 2010, 143:642-649.
2. Alt F., Oelmann Y., Herold N., Schrumpf M., Wilcke W. Phosphorus partitioning in grassland and forest soils of Germany as related to land-use type, management intensity, and land use-related pH. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 2011, 174:195-209.
3. Bakker J.P., Berendse F. Constraints in the restoration of ecological diversity in grassland and heathland communities. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1999, 14:63-68.
4. Bakker J.P., ter Heerdt G.N.J. Organic grassland farming in the Netherlands: a case study of effects on vegetation dynamics. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2005, 6:205-214.
5. Batáry P., Báldi A., Sárospataki M., Kohler F., Verhulst J., Knop E., Herzog F., Kleijn D. Effect of conservation management on bees and insect-pollinated grassland plant communities in three European countries. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2010, 136:35-39.
6. Batáry P., Holzschuh A., Orci K.M., Samu F., Tscharntke T. Responses of plant, insect and spider biodiversity to local and landscape scale management intensity in cereal crops and grasslands. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2012, 146:130-136.
7. Bengtsson J., Ahnström J., Weibull A.-C. The effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity and abundance: a meta-analysis. J. Appl. Ecol. 2005, 42:261-269.
8. Birkhofer K., Fließbach A., Wise D.H., Scheu S. Generalist predators in organically and conventionally managed grass-clover fields: implications for conservation biological control. Ann. Appl. Biol. 2008, 153:271-280.
9. Blüthgen N., Dormann C.F., Alt F., Boch S., Klaus V.H., Gockel S., Hemp A., Kleinebecker T., Hölzel N., Müller J., Nieschulze J., Renner S., Schöning I., Schumacher U., Socher S.A., Wells K., Birkhofer K., Buscot F., Fischer M., Kalko E.K.V., Linsenmair K.E., Oelmann Y., Prati D., Rothenwöhrer C., Scherber C., Schulze E.-D., Tscharntke T., Weiner C., Weisser W.W. A quantitative index of land-use intensity in grasslands: integrating mowing, grazing and fertilization. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2012, 13:207-220.
10. Dahms H., Mayr S., Birkhofer K., Chauvat M., Melnichnova E., Wolters V., Dauber J. Contrasting diversity patterns of epigeic arthropods between grasslands of high and low agronomic potential. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2010, 11:6-14.
11. Dietschi S., Holderegger R., Schmidt S.G., Linder P. Agri-environment incentive payments and plant species richness under different management intensities in mountain meadows of Switzerland. Acta Oecol. 2007, 31:216-222.
12. Donath T.W., Hölzel N., Otte A. The impact of site conditions and seed dispersal on restoration success in alluvial meadows. Appl. Veg. Sci. 2003, 6:13-22.
13. Donath T.W., Bissels S., Hölzel N., Otte A. Large scale application of diaspore transfer with plant material in restoration practice - impact of seed and microsite limitation. Biol. Conserv. 2007, 138:224-234.
14. European Union Commission Regulations (EC) No. 889/2008 2008, European Union, Brussels.
15. Fischer M., Bossdorf O., Gockel S., Hänsel F., Hemp A., Hessenmöller D., Korte G., Nieschulze J., Pfeiffer S., Prati D., Renner S., Schöning I., Schumacher U., Wells K., Buscot F., Kalko E.K.V., Linsenmair K.E., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W.W. Implementing large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity research: the biodiversity exploratories. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2010, 11:473-485.
16. Foster B.L., Khavin I.S., Murphy C.A., Smith V.H., Ramspott M.E., Price K.P., Kindscher K. Integrated responses of grassland biodiversity and ecosystem properties to hay management: a field experiment. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 2010, 113:103-119.
17. Fuller R.J., Norton L.R., Feber R.E., Johnson P.J., Chamberlain D.E., Joys A.C., Mathews F., Stuart R.C., Townsend M.C., Manley W.J., Wolfe M.S., Macdonald D.W., Firbank L.G. Benefits of organic farming to biodiversity vary among taxa. Biol. Lett. 2005, 1:431-434.
18. Geiger F., Bengtsson J., Berendse F., Weisser W.W., Emmerson M., Morales M.B., Ceryngier P., Liira J., Tscharntke T., Winqvist C., Eggers S., Bommarco R., Pärt T., Bretagnolle V., Plantegenest M., Clement L.W., Dennis C., Palmer C., Oñate J.J., Guerrero I., Hawro V., Aavik T., Thies C., Flohre A., Hänke S., Fischer C., Goedhart P.W., Inchausti P. Persistent negative effects of pesticides on biodiversity and biological control potential on European farmland. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2010, 11:97-105.
19. Gomiero T., Pimentel D., Paoletti M. Environmental impact of different agricultural management practices: conventional vs. organic agriculture. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 2011, 30:95-124.
20. Gosling P., Shepherd M. Long-term changes in soil fertility in organic arable farming systems in England, with particular reference to phosphorus and potassium. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2005, 105:425-432.
21. Güsewell S. N:P ratios in terrestrial plants: variation and functional significance. New Phytol. 2004, 164:243-266.
22. Haas G., Wetterich F., Köpke U. Comparing intensive, extensified and organic grassland farming in southern Germany by process life cycle assessment. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 2001, 83:43-53.
23. Hathaway-Jenkins L.J., Sakrabani R., Pearce B., Whitmore A.P., Godwin R.J. A comparison of soil and water properties in organic and conventional farming systems. Engl. Soil Use Manage. 2011, 27:133-142.
24. Hole D.G., Perkins A.J., Wilson J.D., Alexander I.H., Grice P.V., Evans A.D. Does organic farming benefit biodiversity?. Biol. Conserv. 2005, 122:113-130.
25. Hölzel N., Otte A. Restoration of a species-rich flood-meadow by topsoil removal and diaspore transfer with plant material. Appl. Veg. Sci. 2003, 6:131-140.
26. Hopkins A., Wilkins R.J. Temperate grassland: key developments in the last century and future perspectives. J. Agric. Sci. 2006, 144:503-523.
27. Hrevušová Z., Hejcman M., Pavlů V., Hakl J., Klaudisová M., Mrkvička J. Long-term dynamics of biomass production, soil chemical properties and plant species composition of alluvial grassland after the cessation of fertilizer application in the Czech Republic. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 130:123-130.
28. Joern A., Laws A.N. Ecological mechanisms underlying arthropod species diversity in grasslands. Annu. Rev. Ent. 2013, 58:19-36.
29. Jonason D., Andersson G.K.S., Öckinger E., Rundlöf M., Smith H.G., Bengtsson J. Assessing the effect of the time since transition to organic farming on plants and butterflies. J. Appl. Ecol. 2011, 48:543-550.
30. Jost L. Entropy and diversity. Oikos 2006, 113:363-375.
31. Klaus V.H., Kleinebecker T., Hölzel N., Boch S., Müller J., Socher S., Prati D., Fischer M. Nutrient concentrations and fibre contents of plant community biomass reflect diversity patterns in a broad range of agricultural grasslands. Perspect. Plant Ecol. 2011, 13:287-295.
32. Klaus V.H., Hölzel N., Boch S., Müller J., Socher S.A., Prati D., Fischer M., Kleinebecker T. Direct and indirect associations between plant species richness and productivity in grasslands: regional differences preclude simple generalization of productivity-biodiversity relationships. Preslia 2013, 85:97-112.
33. Kleijn D., Sutherland W.J. How effective are European agri-environment schemes in conserving and promoting biodiversity?. J. Appl. Ecol. 2003, 40:947-969.
34. Mäder P., Fliessbach A., Dubois D., Gunst L., Fried P., Niggli U. Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 2002, 296:1694-1697.
35. Ökologische Grünlandbewirtschaftung 1995, Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau, Heidelberg.
36. Marini L., Klimek S., Battisti A. Mitigating the impacts of the decline of traditional farming on mountain landscapes and biodiversity: a case study in the European Alps. Environ. Sci. Policy 2011, 14:258-267.
37. Mayer F., Heinz S., Kuhn G. Effects of agri-environment schemes on plant diversity in Bavarian grasslands. Commun. Ecol. 2008, 9:229-236.
38. Morris M.G. The effects of structure and its dynamics on the ecology and conservation of arthropods in British grasslands. Biol. Conserv. 2000, 95:129-142.
39. Murphy J., Riley J.P. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta 1962, 27:31-36.
40. Naumann C., Bassler H. VDLUFA-Methodenbuch. Die chemische Untersuchung von Futtermitteln mit Ergänzungen von 1983, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2004 und 2006 1976, VDLUFA, Darmstadt. third ed.
41. Negassa W., Leinweber P. How does the Hedley sequential phosphorus fractionation reflect impacts of land use and management on soil phosphorus: a review. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 2009, 172:305-325.
42. Nemecek T., Dubois D., Huguenin-Elie O., Gaillard G. Life cycle assessment of Swiss farming systems: I. Integrated and organic farming. Agric. Syst. 2011, 104:217-232.
43. Offermann F., Nieberg H. Organic Farming in Europe: Economics and Policy, Economic Performance of Organic Farms in Europe 2000, University of Hohenheim, Department of Farm Economics, Stuttgart. fifth ed.
44. Olde Venterink H., Wassen M.J., Verkroost A.W.M., de Ruiter P.C. Diversity-productivity patterns differ between N-P-, and K-limited wetlands. Ecology 2003, 84:2191-2199.
45. Poptcheva K., Schwartze P., Vogel A., Kleinebecker T., Hölzel N. Changes in wet meadow vegetation after 20 years of different management in a field experiment (North-West Germany). Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 134:108-114.
46. Power E.F., Kelly D.L., Stout J.C. Organic farming and landscape structure: effects on insect-pollinated plant diversity in intensively managed grasslands. PLoS ONE 2012, 7(5):e38073. 10.1371/journal.pone.0038073.
47. R Development Core Team R: A Language And Environment For Statistical Computing 2011, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna.
48. Rundlöf M., Edlund M., Smith H.G. Organic farming at local and landscape scales benefits plant diversity. Ecography 2010, 33:514-522.
49. Schaack D., Iller S., Würtenberger E. AMI-Marktbilanz Öko-Landbau 2010 2010, Agrarmarkt Informationsgesellschaft mbH, Bonn.
50. Scherber C., Eisenhauer N., Weisser W.W., Schmid B., Voigt W., Fischer M., Schulze E. Roscher C., Weigelt A., Allan E., Beler H., Bonkowski M., Buchmann N., Buscot F., Clement L.W., Ebeling A., Engels C., Halle S., Kertscher I., Klein A., Koller R., König S., Kowalski E., Kummer V., Kuu A., Lange M., Lauterbach D., Middelhoff C., Migunova V.D., Milcu A., Müller R., Partsch S., Petermann J.S., Renker C., Rottstock T., Sabais A., Scheu S., Schumacher J., Temperton V.M., Tscharntke T. Bottom-up effects of plant diversity on multitrophic interactions in a biodiversity experiment'. Nature 2010, 468:553-556.
51. Schweiger O., Maelfait J.-P., Van Wingerden W., Hendrickx F., Billeter R., Speelmans M., Augenstein I., Aukema B., Aviron S., Bailey D., Bukacek R., Burel F., Diekotter T., Dirksen J., Frenzel M., Herzog F., Liira J., Roubalova M., Bugter R. Quantifying the impact of environmental factors on arthropod communities in agricultural landscapes across organizational levels and spatial scales. J. Appl. Ecol. 2005, 42:1129-1139.
52. Siemann E. Experimental tests of effects of plant productivity and diversity on grassland arthropod diversity. Ecology 1998, 79:2057-2070.
53. Socher S., Prati D., Müller J., Klaus V.H., Hölzel N., Fischer M. Direct and productivity-mediated indirect effects of fertilization, mowing and grazing intensities on grassland plant species richness. J. Ecol. 2012, 100:1391-1399.
54. Stein C., Auge H., Fischer M., Weisser W.W., Prati D. Dispersal limitation affects diversity-productivity relationships in montane European grasslands. Oikos 2008, 117:1469-1478.
55. Tscharntke T., Klein A.M., Kruess A., Steffan-Dewenter I., Thies C. Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity - ecosystem service management. Ecol. Lett. 2005, 8:857-874.
56. Wachendorf M., Taube F. Artenvielfalt, Leistungsmerkmale und bodenchemische Kennwerte des Dauergrünlands im konventionellen und ökologischen Landbau in Nordwestdeutschland. Pflanzenbauwissenschaften 2001, 5:75-86.
57. Walker K.J., Stevens P.A., Stevens D.P., Mountford J.O., Manchester S.J., Pywell R.F. The restoration and re-creation of species-rich lowland grassland on land formerly managed for intensive agriculture in the UK. Biol. Conserv. 2004, 119:1-18.
58. Willems J.H., van Nieuwstadt M.G.L. Long-term after effects of fertilization on above-ground phytomass and species diversity in calcareous grassland. J. Veg. Sci. 1996, 6:177-184.
59. Wilson J.B., Peet R.K., Dengler J., Pärtel M. Plant species richness: the world records. J. Veg. Sci. 2012, 23:796-802.
60. Winqvist C., Bengtsson J., Aavik T., Berendse F., Clement L.W., Eggers S., Fischer C., Flohre A., Geiger F., Liira J., Part T., Thies C., Tscharntke T., Weisser W.W., Bommarco R. Mixed effects of organic farming and landscape complexity on farmland biodiversity and biological control potential across Europe. J. Appl. Ecol. 2011, 48:570-579.
61. Whittingham M.J. The future of agri-environment schemes: biodiversity gains and ecosystem service delivery?. J. Appl. Ecol. 2011, 48:509-513.
62. Weibull A.-C., Östman Ö., Granquist Å. Species richness in agroecosystems: the effect of landscape, habitat and farm management. Biodivers. Conserv. 2003, 12:1335-1355.
63. Zahn L., Englmaier I., Drobny M. Food availability for insectivores in grasslands - arthropod abundance in pastures, meadows and fallow land. Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res. 2010, 8:87-100.
64. Zechmeister H.G., Schmitzberger I., Steurer B., Peterseil J., Wrbka T. The influence of land-use practices and economics on plant diversity in meadows. Biol. Conserv. 2003, 114:165-167.
65. Zuur A.F., Ieno E.N., Walker N.J., Saveliev A.A., Smith G.M. Mixed Effects Models and Extensions in Ecology with R 2009, Springer, New York.