Traditional Mulching using Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) increases Ground-Dwelling Carnivorous Beetles

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), based on empirical data, is a valuable source of data that enables novel scientific discoveries, and its reevaluation offers novel insights for addressing sustainability challenges. In this study, we reevaluated the effects of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) mulching, a traditional practice in the mountainous areas of Japan. Our previous research confirmed that knotweed mulching is effective in increasing sugar content in certain types of crops, preventing continuous crop damage, and inducing disease resistance. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in functional biodiversity, which enhances the function of ecosystem services through biodiversity conservation, specifically on ground-dwelling organisms that prey on natural enemies. In this study, we compared the effects of knotweed mulching with rice straw mulching (a common mulch) and no mulching on ground-dwelling organisms. Although no differences were observed for spiders, there was a tendency for the Japanese knotweed mulch to increase the number of ground-dwelling carnivorous beetles.

Keywords: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica), Mulching, Functional Biodiversity, Ground-Dwelling Carnivorous Beetle.