Weed seedbank dynamics: Estimation and management in groundnut

Abstract

Effective weed management necessitates sound knowledge of weed seedbank dynamics. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plots have three residue management treatments and sub-plots comprised seven weed management treatments. Results revealed that highest pod yield (1.47 t/ha) was recorded under wheat residue incorporation fb soil solarization. Among weed management, the highest pod yield (1.68 t/ha) and haulm yield (3.35 t/ha) was recorded with weed free and unweeded check registered lowest pod yield (722 kg/ha). The lowest dry weight of weeds was obtained under wheat residue incorporation fb soil solarization and weed free. Wheat residue incorporation fb soil solarization depleted correspondingly 54 (25.32%), 10 (5.29%) and 32 (16.16%) seeds per core from the initial weed seedbank in 2014, 2015 and pooled results, respectively. The highest seedbank depletion was observed with weed free by depletion of 147 (68.37%), 123 (68.20%) and 135 (68.29%) weed seeds per core. Pendimethalin 900 g/ha as preemergence fb IC and HW at 45 DAS depleted 129 (59.84%), 103 (57.09%) and 116 (58.59%) weed seeds per core. Pendimethalin 900 g/ha as pre-emergence fb premix imazethapyr + imazamox 70 g/ha as post-emergence at 25 DAS depleted 126 (58.40%), 101 (55.86%) and 113 (57.24%) weed seeds per core and suicidal germination fb killing the weed flush by subsequent tillage fb IC and HW at 45 DAS depleted 116 (53.85%), 86 (47.64%) and 101 (51.01%) weed seeds per core in 2014, 2015 and pooled results, respectively as compared to the initial weed seedbank. While, unweeded check resulted in to addition of 609 (283.31%), 695 (384.16%) and 652 (329.41%) weed seeds per core sample (15 cm depth and 4 cm diameter) in the soil weed seedbank in comparison to initial weed seedbank.