Chapters authored
Weed Seedbank in Rice Fields
The weed seedbank in the soil is the major source of weeds in rice fields. Therefore, information on ecological aspects of weeds occurring in rice, including their potential seed production, is crucial for weed management. The size of the weed seedbank in rice fields is highly variable depending on the climate, relief position, soil moisture content, depth of sampling, history of the areas and management practices used by farmers. As a survival strategy, colonization and persistence in the communities, most common weeds in rice fields produce huge number of seeds and vegetative propagules with physical and physiological dormancy mechanisms, insuring seed viability in the soil for long periods. A large proportion of weed seedbank remains generally on or close to the soil surface after seed rain. Sampling protocols involve the use soil cores at variable soil depths. Determination of the size of the weed seedbank can be made by seed direct extraction and germination methods. The latter is more precise with respect to enumeration of viable seeds in the soil. Weed management in rice fields should focus on methods suitable to decrease the weed population in the soil seedbank.
Part of the book: Advances in International Rice Research