Effect of different fertilizer and protection managements on seedbank properties in an organic system

In order to evaluation the effect of different crop rotation, fertilizer and protection managements on weed seed bank properties an experiment was conducted in Close House experimental glass house on the soil of 5th year of organic rotation that is conducting in University of Newcastle’s Nafferton Experimental Farm. Rotation was started with grass/clover for first two years and continued with wheat for third year. In 4th year each plot divided in two potato and cabbage sub plots. Beans were grown in both of two sub plots at 5th year. In all years, rotation plots that considered as main plots were exposed on four combinations of two different organic and conventional fertility and crop health managements as a sub or sub –sub plots. Composite soil sample of considered plots put in glass house for three months and number and type of seedlings were assessed. At the end of course seedlings were classified and evaluated on the basis of type of species and functional properties. Results showed that short time rotation has not significant effect on seedbank properties and only change some seed properties ratio. Although weed seed number was more in organic crop protection management in compared with conventional ones but this was related to species that considered have important role in biodiversity production in agroecosystems. Seedbank response to different organic and conventional fertilizer managements was similar. Also seedbank functional properties were not affected with different crop fertilizer and protection managements.