Effect of tillage and weed management on soil properties and yield of soybean in vertisols

An investigation on "Effect of tillage and weed management practices on soil properties and yield of soybean in Inceptisols" conducted at Research Farm of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Weed Management, Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the year 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four main plot treatments and three sub plot treatments, replicated thrice. The main plot treatments consist of four tillage operations which include conventional tillage (T1), conventional tillage + residue (T2), minimum tillage (T3) and zero tillage + residue (T4). However, sub plot consists of three weed management practices includes application of pre emergence + post emergence herbicide (Flumioxaxin fb Imazethapyr + imazamox) (W1), pre emergence herbicide (diclosulam) + hand weeding (W2) and weedy check (W3). The individual and interaction effect of tillage and herbicide was assessed on soil properties. Similarly, the yield of soybean was also assessed. Based on the data generated, it was observed that tillage practices did not show significant effect on porosity, but showed a significant impact on bulk density and moisture content. The significantly lowest bulk density (1.29 Mg m-3) was noted in conventional tillage + residue. However, the significantly highest moisture content (34.72%) was noted in zero tillage + residue. Weed management practices did not show any significant effect on physical properties of soil. During the investigation, it was revealed that tillage as well as weed management practices did not significantly affect physico chemical properties of soil such as pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon. Whereas regarding chemical properties of soil, tillage practices significantly increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the soil. The significantly highest available nitrogen (209.12 kg ha-1), available phosphorous (17.66 kg ha-1) and (385.84 kg ha-1) were recorded in zero tillage + residue. Among weed management practices, a weedy check showed significant increase in available nitrogen and phosphorus but it was at par with pre emergence herbicide + post emergence herbicide treatment. Whereas, weed management practices did not show a significant effect on available potassium. Tillage and weed management practices significantly influenced the yield of soybean. Among all tillage practices, the significantly highest seed yield was and straw yield recorded in conventional tillage + residue. However, in the case of different weed management practices, significantly the highest seed and straw yield was recorded in weedy check plots.