The special value of such wildflower mixes lies in their specific composition of a wide variety of site-appropriate flowering plants from many different plant families, as well as their regional origin from Austrian natural areas. This makes an important contribution to the preservation and promotion of the regional genetics of the species used. These wildflower strips provide habitat and food for a multitude of insect groups, such as wild bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and grasshoppers.
The positive effects of the sown beneficial insect flower strips on biological aphid control by promoting their natural enemies were also demonstrated in this project. However, this effect occurred somewhat later in the year, specifically against flowering broad beans. Virus transmission by aphids in the early developmental stage of the broad bean could not be prevented. Nevertheless, the significant ecological value of such flower mixtures was clearly reflected in all surveys and assessments of the project. The results also support the intentions of the new Austrian Program for Environmentally Sound Agriculture (ÖPUL) 2023, which promotes the establishment of valuable flower strips in arable land and grassland as an environmental mitigation measure.
Within the framework of the present EIP Agri project “Aphid”, it was demonstrated that, with correct technical implementation, the permanent establishment of these ecologically valuable seed mixtures can be achieved satisfactorily.
