Long-term fertilizer regimes influences on weed floristic diversity under Typic Hapludalfs soil conditions

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the effect of different sources of organic and inorganic nutrients on weed composition, diversity and system productivity in maize-wheat cropping system in long-term experiment initiated during 1972-73 in a Typic Hapludalfs soil conditions of North-Western Himalaya. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with 11 treatments replicated three times. Results revealed that a total of 9 weed species from 3 families and 11 weed species from 7 families were recorded in maize and wheat crops, respectively. Poaceae was the most dominating family followed by Asteraceae in wheat crop. 50% NPK resulted in significantly higher broadleaf weed count, total weed count and total weed dry weight, whereas, 100% NPK + Zn resulted in the maximum count of grasses in maize crop. In wheat crop, broadleaf count, total weed count and total weed dry weight were significantly higher in 150% NPK, whereas, 100% NPK + FYM had maximum grassy weeds population. Balanced fertilization resulted in significantly lower species richness, Shannon’s equitability and diversity indices and higher system productivity of maize-wheat cropping system.