Pesticides Research No. 114 2007 – Effects of Mechanical Weed Control in Spring Cereals – Flora, Fauna and Economy

Effects of Mechanical Weed Control in Spring Cereals – Flora, Fauna and Economy

Preface

In a project 2004-2006 the effects of different intensities of weed harrowing on flora and fauna in agricultural fields were investigated on 6 large farms in eastern Denmark. The investigation is part of an array of pesticide research projects requested and financed by the Danish Ministry of Environment. The present project may been seen as interlinked with two previous projects, “Effects of reduced pesticide use on flora and fauna in agricultural fields” (Esbjerg & Petersen 2002) and “Flora and Fauna Changes During Conversion from Conventional to Organic Farming” (Navntoft et al. 2003). The three projects have the overall aim of elucidating the possibilities of reducing the use of pesticides and assessing the associated flora and fauna benefits. The first project demonstrated the benefits of 50-75% reduced dosages, while the second demonstrated the further effect of the conversion step to organic farming, i.e. without pesticides. From both these projects however, the question arose that the weed harrowing alternative to herbicides may also have adverse effects on flora and fauna, particularly if the frequency of harrowing is high. This question is dealt with in the present project, which furthermore includes analyses of the costs of various ways of improving the conditions for flora and fauna in agricultural fields.

The project requested a variety of expertises to be involved as appears from the below list of partners:

Project leader: Peter Esbjerg, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Botanical aspects: Department of Biology, University of Copehagen (Anne-Mette Jensen and Ib Johnsen)

Entomological aspects: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Søren Navntoft and Peter Esbjerg)

Ornithological aspects: Orbicon A/S (Bo Svenning Petersen)

Crop yield aspects: Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, The National Centre (Poul Henning Petersen)

Statistical aspects: Research unit on Statistics and Decision Analyses, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus (Kristian Kristensen)

Economic and weed control aspects: Institute of Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen ( Jens Erik Ørum)

The practical execution of the project would not have been possible without the understanding and cooperation of the landowners, managers and others assisting in this project:

Asnæsgaard, Knud Eirik Viinsand

Oremandsgaard and Gl. Oremandsgaard Estate, Daniel Hage and the Manager Mogens Tved

Vibygaard Øst and Vibygaard Vest, Mogens Jørgensen and the Manager Christian Jørgensen

Viskingegaard, Niels Meinertsen

Others assisting in this project

Tonni Andersen

Anne Tulde Anttila

Niels Bruun

Nicolaj Correll

Martin Rasmussen Davidsen

Kaj Halberg

Tore Karlsson

Nina Karner

Christine Kastrup

Karen Kjeldsen

Jørn Lennart Larsen

Jan Martin

Bo Melander

Henrik Olsen

Steffen M. Thomsen

Furthermore thanks are due to the members of The Scientific Sparring Group:

Head of Research Unit Tommy Dalgaard (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,Aarhus University)

M.Sc. Agronomy Lene Gravesen (Danish Environmental Protection Agency)

Special Advisor Jens Erik Jensen (Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, The National Centre)

Senior Scientist Mette Jensen (National Environmental Rersearch Institute, Aarhus University)

Senior Scientist Lise Nistrup Jørgensen (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University)

Senior Scientist Pernille Kaltoft (National Environmental Rersearch Institute, Aarhus University)

Chairman and Special Advisor Jørn Kirkegaard (Danish Environmental Protection Agency)

M.Sc. Sociology Anne Mette Sørensen Langvad (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University)

Technology and Science Director Niels Lindemark (Danish Crop Protection Association)

Senior Scientist Bent J. Nielsen (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University)

Senior Scientist Niels Woetmann Nielsen (Danish Meteorological Institute)

Senior Scientist Egon Noe (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University)

Senior Scientist Peter Odderskær (National Environmental Rersearch Institute, Aarhus University)

Professor Jørgen Eivind Olesen (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University)

Senior Scientist Marianne B. Pedersen (National Environmental Rersearch Institute, Aarhus University)

Dr. Lise Samsøe-Petersen (Danish Environmental Protection Agency)

Associate Professor Jesper Rasmussen (Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen)

Professor Peter Sandøe (Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen)

Senior Scientist Chris Topping (National Environmental Rersearch Institute, Aarhus University)