Conservation tillage, Relative density, Relative abundance, Relative frequency and Importance value index
Weed management plays an important role in the success of conservation agriculture (CA) and help in gaining optimum crop yields. The knowledge of CA and weed management practices in a particular area allows to study, ecological interaction between crops and weeds to develop sustainable management strategies. A field study was conducted at research farm at ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur (M.P.) between 2021-23 with an objective to study the influence of tillage and weed management practices on weed dynamics, and yield of greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] under long-term maize-wheat-greengram cropping system. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. The main plots was assigned to two crop establishment methods [conventional tillage (CT) and zero tillage with retention of previous crop residues (ZT+R) in system] and four weed management practices [weedy check, recommended herbicide (RH), integrated weed management (IWM), herbicide rotations (HR)] in sub-plot. Results revealed that the lowest total broad leaved weeds density (11.8 and 10.2 no./m2) and total sedges (22.1 and 11.8 no./m2) were obtained with ZT+R. Similarly, total biomass of total broad-leaved weeds (13.6 and 11.0 g/m2), total sedges (16.8 and 8.9 g/m2) and more weed control efficiency (56.55% and 59.10%) with ZT+R in the year 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Integrated weed management obtained lowest weed density of total broad-leaved weeds (8.5 and 6.5 no./m2), total grassy weeds (9.7 and 10.8 no./m2) and total sedges (10.7 and 7.0 no./m2). The total biomass of broad-leaved weeds (5.3 and 4.7 g/m2), grassy weeds (4.9 and 5.3 g/m2), sedges (7.5 and 2.2 g/m2) with highest WCE 84.80% and 85.28% during 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Lower weed parameters under ZT+R noted with higher seed yield of 908 and 994 kg/ha, respectively) In IWM, seed yield was highest with 1129 and 1203 kg/ha during 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Phytosociological analysis revealed the dominance of Cyperus rotundus (L.) and Echinochloa colona (L.) with the highest importance value index.