Crop production: Plant flowers

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 3
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

60%
Certainty

20%
Harms

30%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

Crop yield (2 studies): One replicated, controlled study from Spain found higher crop yields in coriander plants next to planted flower strips, compared to coriander plants next to unplanted field margins. One replicated, randomized, controlled study from Italy found higher crop yields in tomatoes next to planted flower strips, compared to tomatoes next to bare ground, in some comparisons.

Crop quality (0 studies)

Implementation options (3 studies): One replicated, randomized, controlled study from the USA found smaller lettuces in fields planted with flowers, in five out of six configurations. One replicated, controlled study from Spain found higher coriander yields next to field margins planted with more flower species, compared to fewer flower species. One replicated, randomized, controlled study from Italy found lower crop yields in tomatoes next to field margins planted with more flower species, compared to fewer flower species, in some comparisons.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2008–2009 in a lettuce field in Salinas, California, USA, found smaller lettuces in fields with planted flower strips, compared to fields without planted flower strips. Implementation options: When lettuce plants were removed to make space for sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima flower strips, and alyssum was planted perpendicular rather than parallel to lettuce rows, lettuces were not significantly smaller than lettuces in monocultures without flower strips (50 g/head). In five other configurations, lettuces were smaller than in monoculture (38–44 vs 50 g/head). Methods: Eight plots (1 x 10 m) in each of four blocks were planted with a lettuce monoculture (control) or a combination of lettuce and alyssum (replacement or addition, in different configurations).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Brennan E.B. (2013) Agronomic aspects of strip intercropping lettuce with alyssum for biological control of aphids. Biological Control, 65, 302-311.
A replicated, controlled study in 2013 in coriander plots near Madrid, Spain, found higher seed set and seed weight in coriander next to planted flower strips, compared to coriander next to unplanted field margins. Crop yield: Seed set and seed weight were higher in coriander next to flower strips, compared to coriander next to unplanted margins (28–29% vs 18% seed set/umbel; 2.1–2.5 vs 1.0 g seed/plant). Implementation options: Similar seed set and seed weight were found in coriander next to flower strips with one flower species, compared to six flower species (28% vs 29% seed set/umbel; 2.1 vs 2.5 g seed/plant). Methods: Potted coriander plants were transplanted into the field on 1 May 2013, one month before flowering. Fifteen pots were buried 1.5 m from three field margins with one flower species (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), three margins with six flower species, or three unplanted margins (135 pots total). All margins were 1.5 x 15 m. Flowers were planted in autumn 2012.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Barbir J., Badenes-Pérez F.R., Fernández-Quintanilla C. & Dorado J. (2015) Can floral field margins improve pollination and seed production in coriander Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae)? Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 17, 302-308.
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2011–2012 in an organic tomato field near Pisa, Italy, found more and bigger tomatoes on plants grown next to some combinations of planted flower species, compared to other combinations, or compared to bare ground. Crop yield and Implementation options: The most and biggest fruits were found in 2011 on Roma tomato plants grown next to flower strips with three species (140 fruits/plant; 195 g dry biomass/fruit), which had more and bigger fruits than those grown next to bare ground (55 fruits/plant; 50 g dry biomass/fruit) or next to flower strips with either six or nine species (40–65 fruits/plant; 35–40 g dry biomass/fruit). The number of fruits/plant varied with the number of flower species/strip (three/strip: 35–140 fruits/plant; six/strip: 40–95; nine/strip: 35–50; bare ground: 30–55), as did fruit biomass (three/strip: 35–195 g dry biomass/fruit; six/strip: 35–70; nine/strip: 40–65; bare ground: 35–50), but not all differences were significant in both years (2011–2012), or both tomato varieties (Roma and Perfect Peel). Methods: Four treatments were compared: three flower species/strip (Apiaceae species), six species/strip (three Apiaceae and three Fabaceae), nine species/strip (three Apiaceae, three Fabaceae, and three others), and a control strip with no flowers. Three strips/treatment were sown with flower seeds (2011: 6 and 21 June; 2012: 13 and 17 June). Each flower strip (2 x 4 m) was positioned between two tomato plots (4 x 10 m/plot; one Roma plot and one Perfect Peel plot). Number of fruits/plant was assessed for five plants/plot and dry biomass was assessed for four fruits/plant.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Balzan M.V., Bocci G. & Moonen A. (2016) Utilisation of plant functional diversity in wildflower strips for the delivery of multiple agroecosystem services. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 158, 304-319.

Please cite as:

Shackelford, G. E., Kelsey, R., Robertson, R. J., Williams, D. R. & Dicks, L. V. (2017) Sustainable Agriculture in California and Mediterranean Climates: Evidence for the effects of selected interventions. Synopses of Conservation Evidence Series. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Mediterranean Farmland

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