Wild species flowering margins for improved biodiversity in intensive agricultural areas

摘要

The experiment was carried out during the period 2013-2016 at the Joniskelis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC). The aim of the study was to determine the establishment of autochthonous speciesmeasured by their density in field margins, on land used intensively for agriculture. The seeds of 24 flowering species of plants from natural swards were collected during expeditions to river valley meadows. In experimental field margins these plants were grown with a mixture of wild meadow grasses. It was found that the seeds of Thalictrum lucidum L., Gladiolus imbricatus L. and Gentiana cruciata L. did not germinate. Autochthonous species, such as Medicago falcata L., Medicago lupulina L., Achillea millefolium L., Galium boreale L., Galium mollugo L, Hypericum perforatum L., Trifolium pannonicum L., Centaurea jacea L., Heracleum sibiricum L. and Plantago lanceolata L. formed a sufficient density of swards and plants grew well. Medicago falcata L. formed a greater sward density than M. lupulina and G. mollugo formed a higher density than G. boreale. The plant species density in the swards and their survival rate was influenced by the amount of mature seeds and their viability, competition within plants and environmental conditions. Most of the meadow plant species bloom from June to August.