Weed Dynamics and Soil Health as Influenced by Tillage Method and Establishment Method in Small Millets

Abstract

Summer rice fallows are the potential areas for crop diversification with millets. A field experiment was conducted at Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS), Karamana during summer season of 2023-24 with an objective to find out the effect of tillage method and establishment method on weed dynamics and soil health. The field experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with 12 treatment combinations and three replications. The main plot treatments were tillage method (M1-minimum tillage and M2 - conventional tillage), sub plot treatments were crops (C1-little millet, C2-foxtail millet and C3-proso millet) and the sub-sub plot treatments were establishment methods (P1- solid row planting and P2- broadcasting). The study indicated that grasses were the predominant weed flora in summer fallows and the lowest weed density and weed dry weight were observed in conventional tillage method with solid row planting. Among the establishment method, the highest N, P and K removal by weeds was recorded in broadcasting method (134.52 kg ha-1, 4.38 kg ha-1 and 10.29 kg ha-1, respectively). The results revealed that the highest organic carbon (2.09%) was recorded in minimum tillage. The highest available N and P were recorded in minimum tillage and solid row planting. From the study it could be concluded that minimum tillage with solid row planting enhanced the soil health while conventional tillage with solid row planting is a viable option for weed management of small millets in summer rice fallows.