Perennial Cropping Systems
Perennial cropping systems are those that do not require replanting on an annual
basis, thereby reducing necessary inputs, erosion losses, and water pollution, as well
as increase biological carbon sequestration [104].
Typical conservation efforts in perennial cropping systems consist of planting
flowering hedgerows, strips of vegetative plants surrounding field margins,
flowering meadows, and designated bee pastures. These practices serve multiple
purposes including providing supplemental foraging for bees while crops are not in
bloom, reducing erosion, serving as buffers against pesticide drift, and providing
food for other wildlife [105].
However, the presence of these flowers has a potential risk of exposing bees to
insecticide when crop is treated outside of crop’s bloom period. Pesticide mitigation
strategies should be incorporated with the supplemental nectar and pollen plants in
perennial crops [65].
5.2.2 Non-cropped Lands
Noncropped lands are defined as natural and seminatural habitats that are field
margins (strips bordering crop fields), hedgerows (linear scrub along field boundaries), ponds, woodlands, ditches, and fallow farm fields. These lands may or may
not be arable, are less disturbed than cultivated lands, and they can better maintain
overall biodiversity. The flowering plants in noncropped farmland can help restore
and increase habitat for both honey bees and wild pollinators [106].
There are two basic methods to enhance floral diversity in noncropped areas:
Allow native wildflowers to regenerate naturally, or sow a variety of annual and
perennial flowering plants.
Fallow Areas
Fallow areas are defined as farmland plowed and harrowed but left unsown for some
time to allow restoration of fertility as part of a crop rotation or to avoid surplus
production. The original purpose of fallow farmland was the latter, where farmers
were compensated by government incentive payments for removing part of their
land from production, but now, fallow field objectives have expanded to include
conservation of biodiversity [107].
For example, under the EU Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), participating
farmers have been paid an annual rental fee for the conversion of highly erodible
farmland to a land planted with a mixture of native grass and wildflowers [108].
As of 2010, the national limit of fallow set-aside programs in the United States
was capped to 15.8 million hectares (about 39 million acres), and it was capped at
2.8 million hectares in the European Union [65].
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
37
Perennial cropping systems are those that do not require replanting on an annual
basis, thereby reducing necessary inputs, erosion losses, and water pollution, as well
as increase biological carbon sequestration [104].
Typical conservation efforts in perennial cropping systems consist of planting
flowering hedgerows, strips of vegetative plants surrounding field margins,
flowering meadows, and designated bee pastures. These practices serve multiple
purposes including providing supplemental foraging for bees while crops are not in
bloom, reducing erosion, serving as buffers against pesticide drift, and providing
food for other wildlife [105].
However, the presence of these flowers has a potential risk of exposing bees to
insecticide when crop is treated outside of crop’s bloom period. Pesticide mitigation
strategies should be incorporated with the supplemental nectar and pollen plants in
perennial crops [65].
5.2.2 Non-cropped Lands
Noncropped lands are defined as natural and seminatural habitats that are field
margins (strips bordering crop fields), hedgerows (linear scrub along field boundaries), ponds, woodlands, ditches, and fallow farm fields. These lands may or may
not be arable, are less disturbed than cultivated lands, and they can better maintain
overall biodiversity. The flowering plants in noncropped farmland can help restore
and increase habitat for both honey bees and wild pollinators [106].
There are two basic methods to enhance floral diversity in noncropped areas:
Allow native wildflowers to regenerate naturally, or sow a variety of annual and
perennial flowering plants.
Fallow Areas
Fallow areas are defined as farmland plowed and harrowed but left unsown for some
time to allow restoration of fertility as part of a crop rotation or to avoid surplus
production. The original purpose of fallow farmland was the latter, where farmers
were compensated by government incentive payments for removing part of their
land from production, but now, fallow field objectives have expanded to include
conservation of biodiversity [107].
For example, under the EU Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), participating
farmers have been paid an annual rental fee for the conversion of highly erodible
farmland to a land planted with a mixture of native grass and wildflowers [108].
As of 2010, the national limit of fallow set-aside programs in the United States
was capped to 15.8 million hectares (about 39 million acres), and it was capped at
2.8 million hectares in the European Union [65].
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
37