Monitoring weed regulation services by carabids
Problem
Weed pressure is one of the most limiting factors in organic arable crops with increasing weed seed bank in cereal crops.
Solution
In addition to mechanical weed control carabids can reduce
weed seed bank in arable crops by predation. Carabid population is known to be higher in organic fields than in conventionally farmed fields.
Outcome:
Monitoring weed seed predation by carabids helps assessing predation potential and provides information for further improvement of their habitats (e.g. field margins).
Practical recommendation:
Preparing the seed cards
Prepare 10 sand paper cards (5 cm x 5 cm) per field and 10 predator exclusion cages with 1 cm squared metal net (Fig. 1) to avoid predation by mammals and birds.Glue 10 poppy seeds on each card and place each card within an exclusion cage.
Data collection
Collect data twice during the crop cycle, preferably in spring for winter cereals (avoiding drought periods). Define two transects in the monitored field. Place 5 seed cards with exclusion cage along each
transect and nail them into the floor (day D). Remove them after 4 days of exposure to predators (D+4). Count the remaining seeds on each card. Link: http://orgprints.org/31039/1/PA_033_ITAB_Seed_Card_final.pdf
OK-Net Arable – Organic Knowledge Network Arable
Ongoing | 2015-2018
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium