Interaction of different conservational practices and weed management on soil biological properties in rice-wheat system

Intensive tillage in the rice-wheat system affects soil microbial health by use of agrochemicals, particularly herbicides for control of weeds. Tillage and crop rotation also affects microbial immobilization of soil nutrients. Tillage and agrochemical load directly or indirectly affect the performance of different soil microbial health and its functions which supports the soil health, plant growth and ultimately crop performance. Thus, learning about the interaction of different conservational practices and weed management in terms of soil biological properties is extremely necessary. Hence, the present study was conducted at N.E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) during 201516 to 2016–17 with 5 establishments methods of rice and 3 weed management practices under strip plot design with three replications. Conventional Agricultural practices with weed management practices had a significant impact on soil biological properties i.e. dehydrogenase activity, acid, and alkaline phosphatase activity, during both the years. The value of dehydrogenase, acid, and alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in zero till rice and wheat with retention of residues followed by Sesbania brown manuring in summers (ZTR+R-ZTW+R-ZTS) with a weedy check, during both the years of study