Managing perennial biomass crop margins for biodiversity: insights from fine-resolution soil and plant niche models

The challenge of energy production against a target of net‐zero emissions has led to the growth of policies promoting the cultivation and use of perennial biomass crops by governments in the United Kingdom and globally. Many of these crops are long‐lived and require low management inputs, raising questions about how the management of their field margins may influence biodiversity and whether interventions, including those funded by agri‐environment schemes, could enhance biodiversity alongside the crop. In intensive, temperate agricultural systems, crop margins are widely recognised as important for supporting farmland biodiversity; however, little research has focused on how the margins of low‐intensity perennial biomass crops function in this role. These margins can differ from conventional arable margins in structure, shading and management intensity, meaning that their biodiversity potential, and the management practices most likely to enhance it, remain poorly understood.
Our study focuses specifically on the management of margins surrounding short‐rotation coppice (SRC) willow and miscanthus, aiming to identify approaches most likely to benefit plant biodiversity. We combined fine‐resolution soil and plant niche models with field surveys to evaluate how different management practices may affect habitat suitability for grassland species.
High residual soil fertility emerged as a major constraint on establishing forb‐rich grassland assemblages, including those targeted by conservation seed mixes. Model simulations indicate that reducing fertility through repeated cutting and removal of plant material can improve suitability, though gains are gradual and strongly site‐dependent. Margin width also played a critical role, with narrow, shaded margins showing reduced suitability for light‐demanding species, consistent with shade‐driven edge‐to‐area effects. Field surveys revealed very low frequencies of target forb species, confirming that assisted introduction is required where species‐rich outcomes are desired.
Synthesis and applications . Together, these results highlight the need for margin‐specific management guidance for perennial biomass crops and demonstrate how niche‐based modelling can inform the design of effective agri‐environment options.