Unintentional effects of environmentally-friendly farming practices: Arising conflicts between zero-tillage and a crop pest, the common vole (Microtus arvalis).

ABSTRACT: Common voles are a main European facultative, fossorial, farmland rodent pest that can greatly reduce crop yields during population outbreaks. Crop protection against common voles is a complex task that requires the consideration of a set of preventive and control measures within an integrated pest management strategy. A possible option could be to modify farming practices to reduce the availability of refuges for rodents and the damage to crops that they subsequently cause. Farming, however, must simultaneously meet multiple goals including the reduction of the carbon (C) emissions, soil erosion and water use, and the improvement of soil quality. Crop establishment through conservation agriculture strategies, like zero-tillage, would reduce crop management investment, but is also promoted

SUBMITTER: Roos D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6360522 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature