Preservation of rare weed

species in Poland

Denise F. Dostatny

National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources

Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute

05-870 Błonie Warszawa – Poland

e-mail: d.dostatny@ihar.edu.pl

Agriculture

• Polish agriculture is characterized by considerable

fragmentation of farms and relative low consumption

of industrial means of production.

• More than a half of the area of Poland is arable

land of which almost 80% is cultivated (Central

Statistical Office). Therefore, we may assume how

important maintenance of diversity is in the case of

arable land.

• Some steps have already been taken in Poland to

preserve the still existing segetal flora.

Pińczów Nidziańska Basin

Owczary

Lubuski Klub

Przyrodników

Conservation of arable plants - projects

Opole

Research area

• The implementation of the „Niecka Nidziańska – a

model refuge of agro-biodiversity” in the South of

Poland.

• The research was carried out in the South of Poland.

This area of Poland has traditionally been used for

farming (extensive farmming). The research was

conducted on limestone soil, as this soil type is

characteristic of the unique weed species of the

community Caucalido-Scandicertum, threatened by

extinction both in Poland and Europe.

• Phytosociological records were conducted using the

Braun-Blanquet method during the vegetation

seasons of 1997-1999 and 2005-2007 (2008-2012),

across an area of 100 m2.

Correlation between number of weed

species and coverage of cultivated plants

Correlation between number of weed

species and coverage of weed species

Some species

like Apera spica-

venti increased

its area of

occurrence and

made use of free

niches

abandoned by

tiny, more

sensitive weed

species.

Such species have also become expansive by forming

biotypes that are resistant to herbicides. For this

reason some patches are marked by a low number of

weeds species with the low coverage of cultivated

plant.

Factors that influence extinction of weeds:

Changes in farming methods

Heavy agriculture

equipment

Methods of purifying the

seeding material

Abandoning of cultivation in

too steep and too dry fields Excessive use

of chemicals

Abandoning of correct

crop rotation

New crop plant varieties

Several weed species, whose seeds were

acquired on site, have been re-introduced to

maintain the weed gene pool. The assumption is

to obtain the most diversified mosaic of arable

land.

Picnic - Exhibition of organic products

I Międzynarodowej Konferencji

"CONSERVING ARABLE

WEED DIVERSITY- the role of

weeds as an ecological

resource and indicators of agro-

ecosystem function"

• It is known that diaspores of different species may

exist in resting state in the soil seed bank, but they do

not germinate due to adverse external conditions.

Most probably, ecological agriculture, which is

currently being implemented in the area, contributes to

restoration of weed species that are very rare or even

considered extinct. When analyzing the results of

current research a conclusion may be drawn that after

a few years of not using herbicides, balance in the

field is regained, different weed species compete with

one another, not only with the crop plant.

• This research will further aim at creating „agro-reserves” in Poland

• Maintenance of possibly full segetal flora and the whole spectrum of the communities

• The reserves serve as didactic paths: tourist, pupils, students

• The protection actions to be taken in situ and ex-situ: reserves, collections, botanical gardens, gene banks and in the fields.

• Is necessary a co-operation of many institutions representing different sectors of economy

The next step

• The National Strategy of Conservation and

Moderate Use of Biological Diversity (2003)

emphasizes that also „pests and weeds” should be

preserved. The strategy has been prepared upon

request of the Polish Ministry of Environment and

draw up in accordance with the „Convention on

Biological Diversity”. Therefore, the National agri-

environmental Programme in Poland has included

the „Sixth Package (second stage: 2007 – 2013) in

its plan.

List of available agri-environmental

packages (2007 – 2013)

• Package 1. Sustainable farming

• Package 2. Organic farming

• Package 3: Extensive permanent grassland;

• Package 4. Protection of endangered bird species and natural

habitats outside of Natura 2000 areas

• Package 5. Protection of endangered bird species and natural

habitats in Natura 2000 areas

• Package 6. Preservation of endangered genetic plant

resources in agriculture

• Package 7. Preservation of endangered animal genetic

resources in agriculture

• Package 8. Protection of soil and water

• Package 9. Buffer zones

Variant 6.3. Seed production at the

request of gene bank

Implementation of the variant will concern propagation

and maintenance of:

• local crop varieties, landraces

• endangered crop species;

• endangered species of plants that accompany them

in their natural habitats, in order to preserve their

original properties. The sub-option 6.3c provides for

preservation of rare flora accompanying cultivations.

Requirements of Variant 6.3.:

• Contract with gene bank for seed propagation

(farmer provides seed to the gene bank free of

charge)

• Minimum total area for crops contracted by a gene

bank is 0.1 ha and a maximum area is 0.3 ha;

• The farmer needs to keep crop documentation and

make it available to employee of gene bank

supervising the crop;

• Amount of agri-environmental payment 4,700

PLN/ha (1,204 EUR/ha)

Complications • It is necessary to monitor the status of population of the

endangered weed species in collections, agricultural

reserves, and on site which consists in establishing a

network of trial areas in all these locations and

repeating a series of standardised measurements based

on the description of the habitat condition as well as

performing a standard phytosociological record.

• Polish agro-environmental programme for the years

2014-2020 probably will be different.

• Buffer zones - which contributes considerably to

preservation of the biodiversity of agrocenoses and

genetic resources of plants occurring in agricultural

ecosystems:

• field boundaries and edges, with trees, shrubs,

melliferous plants

• area of 25m x min. 50m: crop plant with segetal plants

• Despite the dynamic development of ecological farming

across the country, in some regions these possibilities

are not fully used by farmers and agricultural and

environmental consultants seem not be interested in the

subject.

Consolida regalis S.F. Gray

Lathyrus tuberosus L.

Melampyrum arvense L.

Agrostemma githago L.

Ranunculus arvensis L.

Stachys annua L.

Fumaria officinalis L.

Lithospermum arvense L.

Melandrium noctiflorum (L.) Fr.

Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv.

Centaurea cyanus L.

Conclusions

• In order to preserve rare weed species we must maintain

the traditional way of using fields, where extensive

farming is carried out including crop rotation, planting old

varieties and species of crop plants, without any use of

chemical pesticides or cleaning seed material.

• The protection of rare weed species in situ constitutes a

huge challenge for us, although it is well worth of effort,

because the preservation of these species in the form of

living, functioning populations constitutes preservation of

a part of nature and culture of Poland.

Thank you