Biodiversity in Glyphosate Tolerant Fodder Beet Fields. Timing of herbicide application.

Strandberg B. and Bruus Pedersen M. (2002). National Environmental Research Institute, Technical Report No. 410.

This paper is relevant to the Agronomic, and Environmental categories in the following areas:

Abstract or Summary:

In order to study the effects of herbicide tolerant fodder beets on arable biodiversity four different herbicide regimes were set up: Application of conventional beet herbicides, application of Roundup Ready following label recommendation, early application of Roundup Ready, and Roundup Ready applied as late as possible without any expected reduction in root yield. The 2001 results revealed that the Roundup Ready treatments may result in significant improvements of weed flora and arthropod fauna during June and early July compared to conventionally treated plots. A prerequisite for this environmental benefit is that Roundup Ready applications follow the label recommendation or are further delayed. The production of weed seeds was reduced or lacking as a consequence of the effectiveness of Roundup Ready. This may both have an effect on the availability of seeds as food for the birds and may also change the weed flora significantly. To conclude about the long-term consequences of transgenic herbicide tolerant crops on arable land biodiversity it will be necessary to study the effects over several seasons in relevant crop rotations. Paper reproduced with acknowledgement of the National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark

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