Weed Management for Soil, Water and Nutrient Conservation for Sustainable Economic Production

Abstract

Improved crop varieties and fertilizers use has shown their potential in increasing the yield through out the world. Many developed and developing countries have already reached a plateau of agriculture production ofshouving even downittard trend of production. Therefore,.future research needs to focus on improving soil fertility through increased addition of matter by organic management and recycling has great potential for conserving water, soil, organic matter and nutrient elements due to their high production if grown without weedicides, which pollute soil, water and crops. The present experiment aims for increasing crop production and soil fertility by conserving soil, water and nutrients and lower cost of cultivation through appropriate tillage and weed management. Maize was grown on contour rows at 90 cm apart on 4 per cent runoff plots (100x20m) equipped with H- flume, stage level recorder and Coshoction silt sampler for measuring erosion losses. The complete plot of zero tillage and 30 cm strips along corn row under mulch plot was kept weedfree by applying weedicides. Weeds growing in 60 cm infra strips (living mulch) were cut and spread before fruiting (suiface mulch) and finally ploughed under (soil mulch) after harvest of maize. Weeds used in three forms of mulch were quite effective in reducing erosion losses (soil, water and nutrients) and increasing yield of wheat, soil fertility by recycling of organic matter and nutrient, im proved infiltration etc. Slight reduction in maize yield was very well compensated by by increased wheat yield and saving on weeding. The beneficial effect of treatments was in the order of zero tillage+mulch > normal tillage+mulch> zero tillage> contour cultivation. Thus practice is simple, economic and conserving nature for sustainable production.