Tage der Biodiversität 2027

The agricultural landscape is dominated widely by maize-monoculture, with reduced flowering as well as open soils prone to water- or air-erosion. Based on the above- and belowground biodiversity assumption diversification of maize would be a path towards increased soil health, meanwhile bringing back flowering aspects into the landscape. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the maize-undersowing ‘Terra Life – Zea Pro’ (DSV) to increase soil-biodiversity through plant diversification resource supply. Therefore, a greenhouse pot experiment (n=5, 49 x 79 x 30 cm) was implemented based on maize grown with the undersowing ‘Zea Pro’ (DSV) (B) and compared with maize mono-culture (A) and the pure undersowing consisting of 6 species (C) over a period of 3.5 month. All variations were seeded at once and grown in a ‘Para-Braunerde’. Nematode-sampling took place with augers (Ø 1.8 cm) and according to BBCH-developmental stage of maize – before sowing, in the most vital phase (BBCH-maize-65) and lastly in the maturity stage for silo-maize (BBCH-maize-75). The pure undersowing (C) was sampled according to maize developmental stage in the mixture (B). According to specific interest of farmers soil moisture was continuously measured over the experiment. All 6 species of the mixture were additionally grown in single pots (n=5, Ø 26cm) in order to verify the species-effect in the mixture effect on nematode functional guilds. Over all variations the nematode abundance and diversity developed over time and indicated impact of growth-stage as well as plant variation. The soil moisture indicated a higher water demand for the mixture (B), while also having the more diverse nematode functional guilds. As such, undersowings in maize might be necessary to vary according to water availability or be planted but increase the soil diversity value of growing maize as the main crop.