Arable Plants - an introduction

Arable farming has undergone a complete revolution since the 1940s, with huge advances in technology and massive increases in efficiency, crop yields and crop quality. At the same time, however, many once-common animals and plants have become much rarer, and some have disappeared altogether.

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)
©Andrew Byfield/Plantlife

The decline of farmland birds such as the corn bunting and grey partridge has been well-documented, but many species of plants, once regarded as 'weeds', have also declined, some to the point of extinction. Reasons for these declines include the increased use of herbicide, the development of more competitive crop varieties, the increased use of nitrogen, improved seed-cleaning and changes in crop types and sowing dates.

Arable fields now contain a large proportion of Britain's most endangered plants. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) has set an agenda for conservation in the 21st century. Arable field margins are identified in this as one of the highest priority habitats, and of the 62 flowering plants selected for most urgent action, 12 are plants of arable fields.

It is essential that farmers and conservationists work towards a balance between controlling weeds to ensure an economic crop and maintaining ecological biodiversity. The best way to do this is to have field margins that are specifically managed for wildlife and so treated with fewer chemicals than the rest of the field. It is important that this includes no fertiliser application as well as reduced insecticides and herbicides.

A species rich arable flora provides the foundations of a diverse farming environment providing nesting sites for birds, and food and shelter for butterflies, beetles, bumblebees and other insects – it needs to be conserved.