Impact of Tillage on Seed Bank, Population Dynamics and Management of Weeds

Abstract

Tillage is the oldest art associated with development of Agriculture. Conventional tillage practices are being followed since time immemorial whereas conservation tillage or reduced tillage has come into practice recently. Conservation tillage practices are able to save labour, fuel, water and energy, besides improving soil health. One of the major objectives of tillage is weed management. Tillage has significant influence on nature and growth of weed species. Weed management under conservation tillage is a greater challenge than in conventional tillage, because there is no weed seed burial by tillage operations, and soil-applied herbicides are not incorporated, resulting in reduced efficacy. A large proportion of weed seed bank remains generally on or close to the soil surface after sowing under conservation tillage. Perennial weeds may also become more challenging in this system, where tillage is absent. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the impact of tillage on species, density and dry weight of weeds, weed seed bank in soil and weed management practices.