Effects of tillage systems on the seed bank persistence and seedling emergence of ten arable weeds

To test the effects of different tillage implements on soil seed bank decline and on seedling emergence, 5000 seeds m(-2) of the arable weed species Avena fatua, Echinochloa crus-galli, Stellaria media, Spergula arvensis, Sinapis arvensis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Raphanus raphanistrum, Thlaspi arvense, Solanum nigrum and Tripleurospermum perforatum were broadcast in experimental plots. The implements were the curry comb, the cultivator and the plough. After 25 months, the percentage of weed seeds recovered ranged from 0-12 %, depending on the species. The highest number of re-detected seeds was for Thlaspi arvense in soils under plough tillage. In contrast, no seeds were recovered from Spergula arvensis and Avenafatua. As there were no significant differences among the three treatments concerning the decline of the soil seed bank, seedling emergence in the curry comb and the cultivator plots significantly exceeded the values of the plots under plough tillage.