Relationship Between Soil Weed Seed Bank and Soil Properties in Arable Farmlands in University of Port Harcourt and Environs in Rivers State-Nigeria

Abstract

This paper considered relationship between soil weed seed bank seedlings and soil physicochemical parameters in arable farmlands was sampled in rainy and dry seasons at 3 different depths of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15cm. Arable farmlands were 22 and 3 controls. Soils were collected at four points randomly with a soil auger, prepared for laboratory analyses and 100g each placed into 225 small bowls replicated 3 times, which were perforated and having tissue papers at base for soils to prevent soil and weed seeds wash off at watering. Emerged weed seedlings were counted, identified weekly for 12 weeks. Soils were allowed to dry and turned over at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Unidentified weeds seedlings were transferred into bigger bowls with humus soils, labeled to grow further and then identified. The parameters considered included soil weed seed bank seedlings and soil physicochemical properties. Weed seedlings data and result from physicochemical analysis were subjected to correlation analysis. Result at 5cm depth for rainy season revealed abundance of weed species significant (p<0.05) correlated with parameters K and Cu with a correlation coefficient (p-value) of 0.507 (0.016) and 0.611(0.003), respectively. But at 10cm depth it was only correlated with pH with a correlation coefficient (p-value of 0.501 (0.018). However, at 15cm weed species abundance was significant (p<0.05) correlated with parameters pH, P, Mg, K and Cu with correlation coefficient (p-value) of 0.488 (0.021), 0.459 (0.032) 0.458 (0.032), 0.445(0.038) and 0.525 (0.012), respectively. The correlation result in dry season revealed that at various depths weed species abundance was not significant (p<0.05). Conclusively, soil, water and cultural practices adopted by farmers might have impacted on the macro and micro nutrients availability with pH as master catalyst, while the non mobility of nutrients in dry season also affected non correlation. It can be determined from this study that the relationship between soil seed weed bank and soil properties in arable fields shows differences at the three depths.