Soil: Plant hedgerows

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

The effectiveness category for this action refers to its effects on soil fertility (not its effects on greenhouse gases or climate regulation).

Study locations

Key messages

Organic matter (0 studies)

Nutrients (0 studies)

Soil organisms (0 studies)

Soil erosion and aggregation (1 study): One replicated site comparison from the USA found similar particle sizes in soils with or without planted hedgerows.

Greenhouse gases (0 studies)

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 site comparison in farmland in the Central Valley, California, USA (years of study not reported), found similar soil structure in field edges with or without planted hedgerows. Soil erosion and aggregation: Similar particle sizes were found in soils with or without planted hedgerows (data reported as statistical results). Methods: Eight fields with planted hedgerows (mostly Californian native shrubs and forbs, at least five years after planting) were compared with eight field edges without planted hedgerows. Two soil samples were collected from each site (0–10 cm depth).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Sardiñas H.S., Ponisio L.C. & Kremen C. (2016) Hedgerow presence does not enhance indicators of nest-site habitat quality or nesting rates of ground-nesting bees. Restoration Ecology, 24, 499-505.

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?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Mediterranean Farmland

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