Lowland Arable Weed Abundance Surveys Across 49 Farms

Approximately 500 lowland arable fields were surveyed for the density of seven weed species over three years from 2006 to 2009. The data collection, part of the NERC Rural Economy and Land Use programme, supports research on integrating agricultural sustainability. Each surveyed field was divided into 20x20 metre grid cells for repeated seasonal sampling.

Use Cases

• Model weed population dynamics for seven specific species across three years of seasonal density estimates.
• Analyze spatial distribution of weed density using 20x20 metre grid cell data from approximately 500 fields.
• Integrate weed abundance data with farmer interview data (study 6728) to model links between farming practices and biodiversity.
• Assess the effect of arable farming practices on weed habitats and food supply for farm birds.

Strengths

• Surveys cover approximately 500 fields across 49 farms, providing multi-site coverage.
• Data includes three seasonal density estimates per year for a three-year temporal series.
• Focuses on seven specific weed species, enabling targeted ecological analysis.

Limitations

• Geographic scope is limited to lowland arable fields in specific UK counties (e.g., Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire).
• Data is from 2006-2009 and may not reflect current agricultural practices or weed populations.
• Sample data and specific column structure are unavailable, complicating initial data exploration.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

Field surveys dividing each field into 20x20 metre grid cells and estimating weed density three times per year.

Time Range

2006-2009

Freshness

null

Geography

Lowland arable fields in UK counties including Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Bedfordshire.