Reducing weeds with ground beetles
4 Aug 2011 by Evoluted New Media
Ground beetles could play an important role in ensuring future food security by munching on weed seeds that would otherwise grow to compete with food crops.
Ground beetles could play an important role in ensuring future food security by munching on weed seeds that would otherwise grow to compete with food crops.
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Ground beetles munch on seeds that would have otherwise grown into weeds to compete with food crops Credit: Dr David Bohan Rothamsted Research |
Researchers from Rothamsted Research have found that ground beetles play a role in weed control in farmland soils. Using data from 257 conventionally managed fields throughout the UK, researchers determined the effect of ground beetles in the soils of sugar beet, maize and spring and winter oilseed rape fields.
“Seed predation by naturally occurring beetles in farmland does have a beneficial effect, reducing weed numbers in fields and potentially improving agricultural productivity,” said Dr David Bohan, who led the research.
The research – published in Journal of Applied Ecology – showed grass weeds were reduced more than other weeds. Many grass weeds have become resistant to herbicides and can have a major impact on productivity, competing with crops for resources.
“We have a challenge to feed 9 billion people by 2050 and to do so we must engage in research now that will underpin improvements in yield and sustainability of farming in the future,” said Professor Douglas Kell, chief executive of BBSRC, who funded the research.
“By studying whole biological systems such as farm ecosystems we can spot the various contributions made by different aspects of a system, including these beetles. This projects shows that the balance of farm ecosystems can be vital to ensuring sustainability in farming in the future. It also makes the link between biodiversity and food security very clear.”
The ground beetles appear to eat a significant proportion of the weed seeds that would otherwise go on to take root in the soil. With the right management, ground beetles could be used to replace herbicide applications and reduce weed populations.
Beetle banks – which involve leaving an area of a field as a wildlife habitat – are already supported under the Environmental Stewardship schemes available to farmers.
