Towards multifunctional agriculture – weeds as ecological goods?

Abstract

Summary Agricultural land use has production, ecological, aesthetic and social functions. Certainly, in Europe, the concept of agricultural land use as being multifunctional seems to be increasingly accepted. Ecological goods and services can be rewarded as results or as actions – the differences between these ways are described and an outcome‐based rewarding system is elucidated for the creation of incentives for innovation and taking responsibility. The principle requirements for ecological goods are summarized. The contribution of agricultural land use to plant biodiversity is the most appropriated factor for an outcome‐based rewarding system. The various types of vegetation connected with agricultural land use can be used as recognizable ecological goods. The reasoning behind defining specific arable goods is shown. Information about creating the supply is available from the research performed on weed control in different arable systems. As the majority of ecological goods are public goods, mechanisms adapted from market situations for private goods must be stimulated and organized. The decision as to which ecological goods should be stimulated could be transferred to a decentralized and region‐specific public committee in which the relevant stakeholders are represented. Implementation exercises undertaken in a region of the German Federal State of Lower Saxony are introduced.

Contrasting weed species composition in perennial alfalfas and six annual crops: implications for integrated weed management

“…While alfalfas hinder the development of several weeds species that are problematic in annual crops, they may maintain a certain abundance and diversity of other wild plant species that may provide trophic resources for animals and other ecosystem services (Gerowitt et al, 2003;Marshall et al, 2003;Holland et al, 2006). The strong impacts of perennial crops on weed communities reported in this paper should be completed by long-term studies tracking the weed community during entire crop rotations.…”

Crop diversification for weed management in organic arable cropping systems

“…Thus, they need to distinguish between major groups of weed species having either high or low noxiousness or being even neutral to positive for the cropping system [3,9].…”

Caucalido platycarpi-Vicietum michauxii — a new weed association from crop fields of Kyrgyzstan (Middle Asia)

“…In most researches the implementation of modern cultivation techniques is regarded as a main responsible factor of the decreasing weed richness in field phytocoenoses [30][31][32][33][34].…”