Effects of Integrated Weed Management Using Solarization, Straw Mulch andHand-Weeding on Weed Seed-Bank

To study the effects of soil solarization, barley straw mulch and hand weeding on weed seedbank, a field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2007-2008 growing season. This experiment was based on a randomized complete block arranged as a split-split plot design with three replications. Clear and black polyethylene, and non-solarized control were arranged on main plots. A different straw mulch rates (0, 300 and 600 gm-2), and weeding treatment were in the sub-plots and sub-sub plots, respectively. A total of 19 weed species was recorded in all treatments which were mainly annual broad leave species. Results indicated that solarization with clear sheets had 1.8 times less seed density than the control plots. Application of straw mulch decreased weed seed population. Also, hand weeding was effective in reducing weed seeds. Weed seedbank density in no-weeding plots was 3 times greater than weed control plots. The interaction between soil solarization, straw mulch and weeding on seedbank size was significant. The lowest number of weed seeds was observed in clear polyethylene, 300 gm-2 straw mulch and weeding.