Abstract:
Field trials were conducted to study the allelopathic potential of rice straw mulching at different doses for weed control and nutrients status improvement of soil in zero-till wheat at the Adaptive Research Farm, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan during Rabi season 2008-09 and 2010-11. Rice straw mulch was used at the rate of 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5 and 20.0 t ha-1the next day after sowing (DAS). A control plot was kept without rice straw mulch for comparison. It was observed that rice straw mulch had significantly increased the soil organic matter content, the available P, K and decreased the soil pH. Minimum broad leaved weeds (9.89, 11.22, and 12.11 plants m-2), narrow leaved weeds (15.45, 18.89 and 21.22 plants m-2) and dry weed biomass (45.73, 58.01 and 65.68 g m-2) were recorded in plots treated with 20.0, 17.5 and 15.0 t ha-1 rice straw mulch, respectively. Reduction in plant population was observed with increasing rate of rice mulch. However, number of tillers m-2, grains spike-1, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were all significantly higher in the treated plots as compared to the control plots. Maximum grain yield (4.58 t ha-1)was recorded for 15.0 t ha-1 rice straw mulch plots followed by 17.5 tha-1 of rice straw mulch (4.37 t ha-1) plots. It can be concluded that using rice straw mulch may be a good alternate source of weed management, soil fertility supplement and a source of bio-herbicide.
Page(s):
465-474
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research, Volume: 19, Issue: 4, Year: 2013