Technologies

Flower strips on field margins to attract beneficial insects [Belgium]

technologies_5620 - Belgium

Completeness: 84%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

co-compiler:

D’Hooghe Mathias

agrobeheercentrum Eco²

Belgium

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
European Interreg project FABulous Farmers
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) - United Kingdom
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Biobest Group (Biobest Group) - Belgium

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Field margins in agricultural areas are sown with specific flowers to attract insects which help combating pests of crops and livestock and reduce the need for pesticides.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Flower strips on field margins have been established in the centre of Belgium in the region ‘Pajottenland’. The Pajottenland is predominantly farmland and lies mostly between the rivers Dender and Senne in close proximity to Brussels. Pajottenland has historically provided food and drink for the citizens of Brussels. This SLM practice was established in September 2019 on parcels on 7 different farms in Pajottenland. Such flower strips are 3-12 metres wide and are established at the edges of fields to provide nectar and pollen to attract beneficial species that control pest species. It is estimated the beneficial effect of the flower strips on field margins extends about 50 metres into the field.

The strips provide a habitat for natural enemies of various crop and livestock pests to control and decrease their population and to reduce the necessity of spraying pesticides. Care it taken in choosing and sowing flower species that attract arthropods with a role in biocontrol, such as hoverflies, lacewings, parasitoids and ladybirds. The flower strips conserve ecosystems and improve biodiversity, also facilitating ecosystem-based disaster risk and integrated soil fertility management.

Farmers dedicate strips of land on field margins to flowers (perennial herbaceous plants). Work includes management of the soil, sowing seeds, mowing flowers and removal of residues. Costs are related to farmers working hours, sowing and mowing equipment, pesticides (if necessary) and seed costs. Savings are related to providing a habitat for natural pest controls, thereby reducing pest in crops and increasing yields.

What do land users like about the technology?
- increased recreational impact for humans due to the beauty of the flower strips
- increased biodiversity (beyond natural pest enemies)

What do land users dislike about the technology?
- reduced overall income from crops (due to reduced area)
- the costs - unless subsidies become more widely available

The compilation of this SLM is a part of the European Interreg project FABulous Farmers which aims to reduce the reliance on external inputs by encouraging the use of methods and interventions that increase the farm’s Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB). Visit www.fabulousfarmers.eu and www.nweurope.eu/Fabulous-Farmers for more information.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Belgium

Region/ State/ Province:

Flemisch Brabant

Further specification of location:

Pajottenland

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

Nee

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2019

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • during experiments/ research
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

Interreg North West Europe: FABulous farmers

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • Reduced pesticide use

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Nee


Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Various crop types used in a regional effort to implement flowerstrips
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Is intercropping practiced?

Nee

Is crop rotation practiced?

Nee

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?
  • No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bp: increase of pests/ diseases, loss of predators

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • not applicable

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Dimension flower strip: minimum 3 metres wide
Effect of the flower strips goes up to 50 metres
Sowing= 2 g seeds/m²= 20 kg seeds/hectare

Author:

Mathias D’Hooghe

Date:

02/10/2019

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

1 ha

If using a local area unit, indicate conversion factor to one hectare (e.g. 1 ha = 2.47 acres): 1 ha =:

1ha - 2.47 acres

other/ national currency (specify):

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

0.91

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

240

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Soil strip preparation Spring
2. Planting wildflower seed Spring
3. Mowing wildflowers Late-Summer
4. Residue removal Late-Summer (before crop harvest)

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Farmer time for establishment Days per establishment 3.0 240.0 720.0 100.0
Equipment Machine to cultivate the land (already owned by farmer) 1 1.0 100.0
Equipment Machine for sowing after cultivating (already owned by farmer) 1 1.0 100.0
Equipment Mower to cut and clear flowers (already owned by farmer) 1 1.0 100.0
Plant material Flower seeds per ha 1.0 900.0 900.0 30.0
Other Loss of income with reduction of cultivated area for crops due to flower strips ha 1.0 500.0 500.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 2120.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 2329.67
Comments:

In 2019 farmers working with VLM who provide a subsidy to sow and maintain field margins at ~70% of the costs to embed and maintain the flower margins.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

No on-going maintenance. The technology would be re-established as required

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Cost of seed mix
Cost of machines to embed and maintain the flower strips if not already available to farmer

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

751.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Rain spread throughout the year

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

KMI, VMM

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
  • low (<1%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

< 5 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Water quality refers to:

ground water

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium
Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

To be increased by SLM.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
  • commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
  • elderly

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • leased
Water use rights:
  • open access (unorganized)
Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Ja

Specify:

Royal decrees, rent legislation

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Beneficial species control pests that leads to improved crop quality

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

More beneficial species and fewer pests reduces reliance on pesticide use

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

beneficial species

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Flowers attract more beneficial species

pest/ disease control

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Flowers attract more beneficial species that can control pests and diseases

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

'Positive' with the support of subsidies.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%
Comments:

Support provided by SLM expert and subsidised establishment costs

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Reduced reliance on pesticide use
Landscape diversity and colourful appearance
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Improved crop quality and health with natural pest control and more beneficial species for pollination, reduces inputs and labour
Social benefit with attractive flower strips in landscape

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Loss of production land for crops Costs offset by reduced pesticide use and potential for improved crop quality
Expensive seed mix Subsidy for implementation
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Speciailst knowledge required for right seed mix SLM expert support and more training opportunities provided through projects like FAB Farmers

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

SLM expert supported implementation thorough the FAB Farmers Project

  • interviews with land users

SLM expert supported implementation thorough the FAB Farmers Project

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/09/2019

7.4 General comments

This SLM technology is an excellent and easy way to reduce pesticide use and provide other benefits in-kind. The key challenge is to use the correct flower seed mix to attract the most beneficial species for the farm and crop.

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