Influence of Tillage and Weed Management Strategies on Soil Microbial Biomass and Dehydrogenase Activity in Maize (Zea maysL.) Cultivation

The purpose of this study is to investigate soil biological activities in vertisols, speci ically exploring the in luence of conservation tillage and different weed management strategies on maize production.Utilizing a strip-plot design, two tillage methods (conventional and reduced) were implemented as vertical strips, while seven weed management strategies formed horizontal strips.Although CT and RT don't differ signi icantly in terms of soil microbial mass and dehydrogenase activity, herbicides, a dominant weed management method, have been shown to harm soil microbes.The weed management strategies implemented had noteworthy effects on both soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity, signifying substantial impacts on these aspects of the soil.Notably, maize intercropped with cowpea exhibited higher microbial mass and dehydrogenase activity compared to treatments involving herbicides, hand weeding, and a weedy check.These indings provide quantitative insights into the soil health implications of different agricultural practices in vertisols.