Flower Strips and Their Ecological Multifunctionality in Agricultural Fields
Jolanta Kowalska, Małgorzata Antkowiak, Paweł Sienkiewicz
Abstract
Flower strips can be an important component of integrated pest management and contribute to reducing pressure on agroecosystems, which is why they are increasingly implemented as part of agri-environmental programs. They can be used as a multifunctional agronomic tool because they can prevent the decline of species diversity in the agroecosystem and increase functional biodiversity, which is a prerequisite for the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination and natural pest control. Research highlights the great potential and multifunctionality of flower strips. This paper provides a synthesis of the most important information and research findings regarding flower strips and may be a useful tool in relation to the European Green Deal, which aims to move the EU towards a green transformation. Where intensive chemical treatments in agriculture have contributed to the degradation of the agricultural landscape, flower strips can support its ecological intensification.