Variations in Weeds and Seed bank Diversity in Different Ecosystems

Soil seed banks are reserves of viable seeds present on the surface or incorporated in the soil. It is potentially important to plant population dynamics and community structure. Many factors affect the size, diversity and abundance of the seed bank. In the present study, an attempt has been made to document the species richness and soil seed bank diversity in rice-based dryland and irrigated agroecosystems and compares these with the marginal uncultivated grassland. This study illustrates the effect of different ecological practices on species diversity, phenology, seed production, seed rain and size of soil seed bank during winter and rainy seasons in three ecosystems. Information obtained from this study can be used for weed management in the agroecosystem, to make recommendations for future cost-effective measures and to establish policies for conservation or restoration programs. This book will be helpful to post-graduate students of environmental sciences, life sciences and restoration ecology and also to researchers for making a basic understanding of the diversity of soil seed banks and their role in weed management and ecosystem restoration.