Influence of long-term different fertilization on soil weed seed bank diversity of a paddy soil under rice/rape rotation

Abstract

A long-term fertilized paddy field under rice/rape rotation in the Taihu Lake Region was selected to investigate the dynamics of soil weed seed diversity. Four fertilizer treatments were performed, including non-fertilizer (NF), chemical fertilizer only (CF), chemical fertilizer combined with pig manure (CMF) and chemical fertilizer plus crop stalk (CSF). We recorded the seed numbers and crop yields, estimated the weed seed bank density and identified the kinds of weed seeds in the topsoil (0–15 cm) in the study area using a stereomicroscope. Based on the records, we analyzed the effect of long-term fertilization on soil weed seed bank diversity and the relationship between weed seed diversity and crop yields. Comparing the four treatments, it was found that in the cultivating seasons of both rice and rape, the density of soil weed seed bank was the lowest with the treatment of chemical fertilizer plus crop stalk. Whereas, the total number of species and the weed seed bank diversity was the highest. Furthermore, the crop yields were at maximum and kept constant with this treatment. There was a definite correlation between fertilizer treatment and soil weed seed bank diversity and crop yields. It was concluded that balancing the fertilizer management was helpful in maintaining soil weed seed bank diversity, increasing crop yields and alleviating crop yield fluctuation. Therefore, among the four fertilizer treatments, chemical fertilizer plus rice crop stalk treatment was the best one to stimulate the productivity of agricultural ecosystems and simultaneously protect biodiversity.