Denise F. Dostatny National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute Błonie Warszawa Poland

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1 Denise F. Dostatny National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute Błonie Warszawa Poland

2 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Polish agriculture is characterized by considerable fragmentation of farms and relatively low consumption of industrial means of production. Over a half of farms produce mainly or exclusively for their own use More than a half of the area of Poland is agriculture land of which almost 70% is cultivated (Central Statistical Office). Therefore, we must emphasize the importance of diversity maintenance of arable land. Some steps have already been taken in Poland to preserve the still existing biodiversity in agroecosystems.

3 Wstęp Ogólna powierzchnia Polski wynosi ok. 31,3 mln ha, w tym 16,3 mln ha (ok. 52%: 89% +11%) jest w posiadaniu gospodarstw rolnych (GUS, 2014). Użytki rolne do 10 ha stanowią 29%, a powyżej 100 ha: 20%. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% > 100 powierzchnia w hektarach 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

4 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Why is it important to maintain small farms? The main reason is that they are more biologically diverse Small ecological farms, especially in southern and south-eastern Poland, still host rare weed species named in red lists of many European states. The diversity of animal and plant species in these areas is significantly higher than in the remaining parts of Poland. Consequently, the balance of agroecosystems is far more stable. The presence of rare weed species in the fields does not equal lower crop but contributes to maintaining considerable diversity of insects or birds.

5 The National Strategy of Conservation and Moderate Use of Biological Diversity (2003) emphasizes that also pests and weeds should be preserved. The strategy has been prepared upon request of the Polish Ministry of Environment and draw up in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

6 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Consolida regalis S.F. Gray Occurrence of weed species in cultivations of 15 small farmers was monitored. The number of weed species in the material harvested directly from the farmer was defined. For that purpose 0.5 kg of material from each field was taken directly from the harvester between 2008 and A list of weed species (their frequency and abundance) was prepared.

7 The number of weed species in the harvested seed material of 15 fields in Poland 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

8 The number of weed species in the fields and the number of weed seeds in the seed material Lata No. of weed species in seed material Dostatny D. F., The function of small farms in supporting biological diversity of agricultural ecosystems. Roczniki Ekonomii Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich, t.100, z.4: th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

9 In the analysed material, after harvest in the initial years of monitoring in Niecka Nidziańska area, a small number of weed species was observed (from 65 to 67 species, between ) with high number of more common species such as: Agropyron repens, Avena fatua, Convolvulus arvensis, Galium aparine, Polygonum convolvulus, that were present in almost every of the 15 samples, with a high abundance index. In the consecutive years, the number of weeds in the material collected from farmers was gradually increasing. In the last 2 years ( ) the differences in abundance between common and rare weeds were not so evident (from 71 to 91 species in 0,5 kg of collected material, in all of 15 samples). 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

10 Abundance of common species dropped which was caused by occurrence of other, less common, species, such as: Adonis aestivalis, Aethusa cynapium, Agrosthemma githago, Bupleurum rotundifolium, Camelina microcarpa, Lithospermum arvense, Neslia paniculata, Valerianella dentata, between others. Specimens of these species probably came from the soil seed resources. What is important, single specimens of rare species have occurred in the fields, such as: Anagallis foemina, Bupleurum rotundifolium (It s increasing its coverage in the fields), Caucalis platycarpos. However, to date their seeds have not been identified in the collected material. 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

11 Agrostemma githago L. Lithospermum arvense L. Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv. 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

12 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Factors that influence extinction of weeds: Changes in farming methods Heavy agriculture equipment Methods of purifying the seeding material Excessive use of chemicals Abandoning of correct crop rotation Abandoning of cultivation in too steep and too dry fields New crop plant varieties

13 Activities in the past: Picnic - Exhibition of organic products 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

14 I International Conference "CONSERVING ARABLE WEED DIVERSITY- the role of weeds as an ecological resource and indicators of agro-ecosystem function" 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

15 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE This research created agro-reserves in Poland Maintenance of possibly full segetal flora and the whole spectrum of the communities The reserves serve as didactic paths: tourist, pupils, students The protection actions to be taken in situ and ex-situ: reserves, collections, botanical gardens, gene banks and in the fields. Is necessary a co-operation of many institutions representing different sectors of economy Melampyrum arvense L.

16 List of available agri-environmental packages ( ) Package 1. Sustainable farming Package 2. Organic farming Package 3: Extensive permanent grassland; Package 4. Protection of endangered bird species and natural habitats outside of Natura 2000 areas Package 5. Protection of endangered bird species and natural habitats in Natura 2000 areas Package 6. Preservation of endangered genetic plant resources in agriculture Package 7. Preservation of endangered animal genetic resources in agriculture Package 8. Protection of soil and water Package 9. Buffer zones 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE

17 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Variant 6.3. Seed production at the request of gene bank Implementation of the variant will concern propagation and maintenance of: local crop varieties, landraces endangered species of plants that accompany the crops in their natural habitats, in order to preserve their original properties. The sub-option 6.3c provides for preservation of rare flora accompanying cultivations. Centaurea cyanus L.

18 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Complications It is necessary to monitor the status of population of the endangered weed species in collections, agricultural reserves, and on site which consists in establishing a network of trial areas in all these locations and repeating a series of standardised measurements based on the description of the habitat condition as well as performing a standard phytosociological record.

19 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Polish agro-environmental programme for the years is different. We do not have the Buffer zone packages - which contributed considerably to preservation of the biodiversity of agrocenoses and genetic resources of plants occurring in agricultural ecosystems: field boundaries and edges, with trees, shrubs, melliferous plants, segetal plants We also do not have the variant 6.3 of the package 6. Despite the dynamic development of ecological farming across the country, in some regions these possibilities are not fully used by farmers and agricultural and environmental consultants seem not be interested in the subject.

20 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Conclusion After a long period of ecological or extensive farming the ecosystems gain balance. Different species coexist, supplement and compete with each other, which does not end in expansion of any of them. This is, without any doubt, more favorable to nature than uniform landscapes with immense areas of one crop plant, where few species of the most common weeds, resistant to herbicides, prevail, creating a simple agricultural ecosystem. The mosaic structure of crop fields of small farms ensures living conditions for many animals and plants, which are already rare across Europe, and may help us save some species that could have a crucial meaning for future generations.

21 7th INTERNATIONAL WEED SCIENCE CONGRESS June 19-25, 2016 PRAGUE Continuing existence of small farm agriculture is the only method of maintaining diversity and balance in agricultural agroecosystems. Thank you