Project LM04135: Management and Performance of AB14 Harvested Low Input Cereal Plots (FINAL REPORT)

Siriwardena, Gavin, Barton, Madeleine, Conway, Greg, Norfolk, David, Mills, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3835-3058, Bundhoo, Dilshaad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0262-9868, Barkley, Lucy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1787-8998, Lewis, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7209-9802, Ray-Smallcalder, Bee ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9856-2973 and Reed, Matt ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1105-9625 (2023) Project LM04135: Management and Performance of AB14 Harvested Low Input Cereal Plots (FINAL REPORT). Project Report. Natural England.

Text (Cannot be visible until officially published on the Natural England site - date pending.) 12953 Siriwardena, Barton, Conway, Norfolk, Mills, Bundhoo, Barkley, Lewis, Ray-Smallcalder, Reed (2023) Project LM04135 - Management and Performance of AB14 Harvested Low Input Cereal Plots (FINAL REPORT).pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (6MB)

Text (Summary - Cannot be visible until officially published on the Natural England site - date pending.) 12953 Siriwardena, Barton, Conway, Norfolk, Mills, Bundhoo, Barkley, Lewis, Ray-Smallcalder, Reed (2023) Project LM04135 - 2 page summary.pdf - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (331kB)

Abstract

AB14 Harvested Low Input Cereal Plots represent a potentially key option in Countryside Stewardship that could also be a central component of future agri-environment programmes. The nominal biodiversity benefits of AB14 cereals are multi-faceted, with open crop structure and beneficial management promoting diverse arable plant communities and, as a result, enhanced numbers and diversity of invertebrates that are important for their own sakes and as resources for priority bird species. However, although its expected effectiveness is well-understood from previous studies, the performance of AB14, in terms of biodiversity responses in practice, remains unknown. Effectiveness at the landscape scale also depends critically on levels of option uptake, so it is important to understand the factors that limit that uptake, in respect of farmer attitudes and crop agronomy practices. This project comprised a novel, integrated and combined ecological, social science and agronomic evaluation of the AB14 option. The study evaluated option uptake, effects on target biodiversity, the agronomy of its implementation and the attitudes of farmers, as well as interactions between these elements. The results can then inform the use of this and similar interventions in the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), as well as providing a template for future option evaluations.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Countryside Stewardship; ELMS; Environmental Land Management Scheme; Agri-Environment Schemes
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) > S589.75 Agriculture and the environment S Agriculture > SB Plant culture > SB183 Field crops including cereals, forage, grasses, legumes, root crops, sugar plants, textile plants
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Bee Ray-Smallcalder
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2026 10:33
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2026 10:33
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12953

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