Effect of long-term application of herbicides on soil microbial demography in rice-wheat cropping sequence

Increasing reliance of present day intensive agriculture on herbicide use has led to certain concerns about their eco-toxicological effects influencing various microbial populations and associated enzymatic activities, which may serve as indicators of soil quality. The effect of herbicides (cyhalofop butyl, isoproturon, butachlor and clodinafop) on soil microbial population of beneficial and other organisms was assessed over a period after 13 years in a Rabi and Kharif season. In the present study, herbicide application resulted in transient suppression of population of beneficial microorganisms including fungi. The microbial population regained its number by the time of harvesting of crops