Effect of tillage and weed management practices on weed dynamics, weed seed bank and grain yield of wheat in rice-wheat system

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive Rabi season of2005-06 and 2006–07 at NEB Crop Research Centre of GB. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar on sandy loam soil to find out the effect of tillage and weed management practices on weeds, weed seed bank in soil and grain yield of wheat grown after rice. Zero till sown wheat had significantly lesser weed dry weight per unit area as compared to conventional sown wheat. Phalaris minor, Melilotus indica and Chenopodium album seed density in soil were significantly lower under zero tillage as compared to conventional tillage from 0 to 5, 5 to10 and 10 to 15 cm soil depths. Excellent suppression in weed density and dry weight and higher yield of wheat were obtained with two hand weeding under conventional tillage system. Under weedy situation, zero tillage was found better because of less weed emergence.