Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe
Although arable landscapes have a long history, environmental problems have accelerated in recent decades. The effects of these changes are usually externalised, being greater for society as a whole than for the farms on which they operate, and incentives to correct them are therefore largely lackin...
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/409218 2024-02-04T09:52:24+01:00 Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe Stoate, C. Boatman, N.D. Borralho, R.J. Rio Carvalho, C. de Snoo, G.R. Eden, P. 2001 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/ecological-impacts-of-arable-intensification-in-europe https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0473 en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/177601 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/ecological-impacts-of-arable-intensification-in-europe doi:10.1006/jema.2001.0473 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Wageningen University & Research Journal of Environmental Management 63 (2001) 4 ISSN: 0301-4797 agricultural intensification beneficial arthropods buntings miliaria-calandra cropping systems environmental-impact habitat selection population-dynamics skylarks alauda-arvensis southern england water erosion info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article/Letter to editor info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2001 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0473 2024-01-10T23:27:44Z Although arable landscapes have a long history, environmental problems have accelerated in recent decades. The effects of these changes are usually externalised, being greater for society as a whole than for the farms on which they operate, and incentives to correct them are therefore largely lacking. Arable landscapes are valued by society beyond the farming community, but increased mechanisation and farm size, simplification of crop rotations, and loss of non-crop features, have led to a reduction in landscape diversity. Low intensity arable systems have evolved a characteristic and diverse fauna and flora, but development of high input, simplified arable systems has been associated with a decline in biodiversity. Arable intensification has resulted in loss of non-crop habitats and simplification of plant and animal communities within crops, with consequent disruption to food chains and declines in many farmland species. Abandonment of arable management has also led to the replacement of such wildlife with more common and widespread species. Soils have deteriorated as a result of erosion, compaction, loss of organic matter and contamination with pesticides, and in some areas, heavy metals. Impacts on water are closely related to those on soils as nutrient and pesticide pollution of water results from surface runoff and subsurface flow, often associated with soil particles, which themselves have economic and ecological impacts. Nitrates and some pesticides also enter groundwater following leaching from arable land. Greatest impacts are associated with simplified, high input arable systems. Intensification of arable farming has been associated with pollution of air by pesticides, NO2and CO2, while the loss of soil organic matter has reduced the system’s capacity for carbon sequestration. International trade contributes to global climate change through long distance transport of arable inputs and products. The EU Rural Development Regulation (1257/99) provides an opportunity to implement measures for alleviating ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Alauda arvensis Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Journal of Environmental Management 63 4 337 365 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
agricultural intensification beneficial arthropods buntings miliaria-calandra cropping systems environmental-impact habitat selection population-dynamics skylarks alauda-arvensis southern england water erosion |
spellingShingle |
agricultural intensification beneficial arthropods buntings miliaria-calandra cropping systems environmental-impact habitat selection population-dynamics skylarks alauda-arvensis southern england water erosion Stoate, C. Boatman, N.D. Borralho, R.J. Rio Carvalho, C. de Snoo, G.R. Eden, P. Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
topic_facet |
agricultural intensification beneficial arthropods buntings miliaria-calandra cropping systems environmental-impact habitat selection population-dynamics skylarks alauda-arvensis southern england water erosion |
description |
Although arable landscapes have a long history, environmental problems have accelerated in recent decades. The effects of these changes are usually externalised, being greater for society as a whole than for the farms on which they operate, and incentives to correct them are therefore largely lacking. Arable landscapes are valued by society beyond the farming community, but increased mechanisation and farm size, simplification of crop rotations, and loss of non-crop features, have led to a reduction in landscape diversity. Low intensity arable systems have evolved a characteristic and diverse fauna and flora, but development of high input, simplified arable systems has been associated with a decline in biodiversity. Arable intensification has resulted in loss of non-crop habitats and simplification of plant and animal communities within crops, with consequent disruption to food chains and declines in many farmland species. Abandonment of arable management has also led to the replacement of such wildlife with more common and widespread species. Soils have deteriorated as a result of erosion, compaction, loss of organic matter and contamination with pesticides, and in some areas, heavy metals. Impacts on water are closely related to those on soils as nutrient and pesticide pollution of water results from surface runoff and subsurface flow, often associated with soil particles, which themselves have economic and ecological impacts. Nitrates and some pesticides also enter groundwater following leaching from arable land. Greatest impacts are associated with simplified, high input arable systems. Intensification of arable farming has been associated with pollution of air by pesticides, NO2and CO2, while the loss of soil organic matter has reduced the system’s capacity for carbon sequestration. International trade contributes to global climate change through long distance transport of arable inputs and products. The EU Rural Development Regulation (1257/99) provides an opportunity to implement measures for alleviating ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stoate, C. Boatman, N.D. Borralho, R.J. Rio Carvalho, C. de Snoo, G.R. Eden, P. |
author_facet |
Stoate, C. Boatman, N.D. Borralho, R.J. Rio Carvalho, C. de Snoo, G.R. Eden, P. |
author_sort |
Stoate, C. |
title |
Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
title_short |
Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
title_full |
Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
title_fullStr |
Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe |
title_sort |
ecological impacts of arable intensification in europe |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/ecological-impacts-of-arable-intensification-in-europe https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0473 |
genre |
Alauda arvensis |
genre_facet |
Alauda arvensis |
op_source |
Journal of Environmental Management 63 (2001) 4 ISSN: 0301-4797 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/177601 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/ecological-impacts-of-arable-intensification-in-europe doi:10.1006/jema.2001.0473 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0473 |
container_title |
Journal of Environmental Management |
container_volume |
63 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
337 |
op_container_end_page |
365 |
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1789973845086568448 |