Small mammals in farmlands of Argentina: responses to organic and conventional farming

Published source details Coda J., Gomez D., Steinmann A.R. & Priotto J. (2015) Small mammals in farmlands of Argentina: responses to organic and conventional farming. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 211, 17-23.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Reduce pesticide or fertilizer use Action Link

Reduce pesticide or fertilizer use

A replicated, site comparison study in 2011–2013 of three arable farms in Córdoba, Argentina (Coda et al. 2015) found that farming without herbicides, fertilizers, or fungicides did not increase small mammal use of field margins or small mammal species richness in margins. Average annual small mammal capture rates on margins not treated with pesticides or fertilizers (2.5–2.9 individuals/20 traps) did not significantly differ from those on conventionally farmed margins (2.4–3.2 individuals/20 traps). Average annual small mammal species richness without pesticides and fertilizers (1.1–1.2 species/20 traps) did not differ from that with conventional farming (1.1–1.2 species/20 traps). Organic fields were managed without herbicides, fertilizers or fungicides for 10–19 years. A range of these chemicals was used on conventionally farmed fields. Small mammals were live-trapped, using lines of 20 traps in 1.5–2.5-m-wide vegetated field margin strips on three farms. Trapping was carried out over four consecutive nights, once each in spring, summer and autumn, from November 2011 to June 2013. There were 106–116 trap lines/sampling period (proportion in each margin management type not stated).

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)