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Continuous Practice of Conservation Agriculture for 3–5 Years in Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Patterns Reduces Soil Weed Seedbank

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Mobarak Hossain

    (Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute, Pili Drive, Los Baños 4031, Laguna, Philippines)

  • Mahfuza Begum

    (Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh)

  • Abul Hashem

    (Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia, 75 York Road, Northam, WA 6401, Australia)

  • Md. Moshiur Rahman

    (Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh)

  • Md. Enamul Haque

    (Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Future Food Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia)

  • Richard W. Bell

    (Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Future Food Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia)

Abstract

When farmers first shift from conventional tillage (CT) to conservation agriculture (CA) practices, the control of weeds may be more difficult, due to the absence of tillage. However, continuous CA, over several years, may alter the weed seedbank. The nature of the weed seedbank changes over time, in intensively cropped rice-based rotations that are typical of the Eastern Gangetic Plain, are not well understood. Two on-farm CA experiments were sampled (in Beluapara after 3 years and Digram after 5 years) in Bangladesh for the effects of strip planting (SP) and bed planting (BP) at both the sites, plus no-tillage (NT) in Beluapara, and increased retention of the residue of previous crops (20% vs. 50%). The conventional tillage (CT) and 20% residue was the control treatment. The weed seedbank in 0–15 cm soil was quantified by assessing the emergence of weeds from soils collected from the field after irrigation, ( Boro ) rice in Digram and wheat in Beluapara, and they were allowed to emerge in trays in a shade-house experiment. The year-round count of emerged weeds at both the locations revealed the fewest number of weed species (especially broadleaf weeds), and the lowest weed density and biomass in SP, followed by CT, BP, and NT, with 50% crop residue mulch. Relative to CT, the SP, BP, and NT produced relatively more perennials weeds, as follows: Alternanthera denticulata ((R.) Brown.), Cyperus rotundus (L.), Dentella repens (L.) , Jussia deccurence (Walt.) , Leersia hexandra (L.), and Solanum torvum (Sw.), which was the opposite of CT that was enriched with the following annual weeds: Cyperus iria (L.), Digitaria sanguinalis (L.), Euphorbia parviflora (L.) , Fimbristylis miliacea (L.), Lindernia antipoda (L.), L. hyssopifolia (L.), and Monochoria hastata (L.). The soil weed seed bank reduced by 13% in SP, while it increased by 19% and 76% in BP and NT, respectively, compared with CT. The species diversity reduced in SP and NT, by 24% and 11%, respectively, but increased by 2% in BP. In 50% residue, the soil weed seed bank and species diversity reduced by 16% and 14%, respectively, relative to that of 20% residue. The continuous practice of CA, for 3 or more years, in two rice-based crop rotations, decreased the size of the weed seedbank, but increased the relative proliferation of specific perennial weeds.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Mobarak Hossain & Mahfuza Begum & Abul Hashem & Md. Moshiur Rahman & Md. Enamul Haque & Richard W. Bell, 2021. "Continuous Practice of Conservation Agriculture for 3–5 Years in Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Patterns Reduces Soil Weed Seedbank," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:9:p:895-:d:637814
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cameron M. Pittelkow & Xinqiang Liang & Bruce A. Linquist & Kees Jan van Groenigen & Juhwan Lee & Mark E. Lundy & Natasja van Gestel & Johan Six & Rodney T. Venterea & Chris van Kessel, 2015. "Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 365-368, January.
    2. Richard W. Bell & Md. Enamul Haque & M. Jahiruddin & Md. Moshiur Rahman & Mahfuza Begum & M. A. Monayem Miah & Md. Ariful Islam & Md. Anwar Hossen & Nazmus Salahin & Taslima Zahan & Mohammad Mobarak H, 2018. "Conservation Agriculture for Rice-Based Intensive Cropping by Smallholders in the Eastern Gangetic Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, December.
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