Perennial energy crops as “environmental islands” in highly modified agricultural land – bioenergy plantations as a source of benefits for pollinating insects

 

EurBee 9 2020 – Symposium 02

Perennial energy crops as “environmental islands” in highly modified agricultural land – bioenergy plantations as a source of benefits for pollinating insects

 

 Piotrowska Natalia 1*,  Czachorowski Stanisław 1 , Stolarski Mariusz 2;

1          Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland;

2          Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental  Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland;

 

Declines in wild pollinator species in the last decades are well documented. They are driven primarily by habitat loss and a decrease in floral resources resulting from agricultural intensification. Large, monocultural crops, devoid of herbaceous plants don't provide nectar and pollen throughout the all growing season. Negative ecosystem changes have sparked a debate on sustainable agriculture, the main assumption of which is to implement solutions that are beneficial both from an economic and environmental point of view. Landscape mosaicism increase is one of them. It can be achieved by incorporating extensively used plantations in industrial agriculture areas. Some of the most beneficial for this model are perennial energy plants. They can be grown on marginal land, of little use for other types of agricultural production, and also require a small amount of agrotechnical treatments. The most popular energy plants in Central Europe today include willow (Salix spp.), giant miscanthus (Miscanthus×giganteus), virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita) and cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum). Based on a literature review, they were assessed for suitability for pollinating insects. The following factors were taken into account: the use of pesticides and the number of agrotechnical treatments on the plantation, the presence of herbaceous plants, the usefulness of the plant itself as forage, and the potential for invasiveness. Conventional miscanthus plantations have been shown to be of little use for pollinating insects. The value of this plant, however, can be increased by intercropping with melilot (Melilotus officinalis). Flowering perennials – cup plant and virginia fanpetals were evaluated much better. However, they have a high invasive potential, which should be taken into account when introducing them into the environment. Additionally, they do not provide nectar in drought conditions. The greatest number of publications concerning willow, which was assessed positively as a source of forage. Additionally in the preliminary study, carried out in Leginy (north-eastern Poland) the cup plant and virginia mallow plantations have been observed during the flowering period. The abundant presence of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and honey bee (Apis mellifera) have been indicated. Supplementary photographic documentation was prepared.

Keywords: perennial energy crops, bumblebees, wild pollinators;

 

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