The objective of this study was to compare the viability of seeds obtained through the techniques "viability by pressure" (VBP) and "viability by pressure plus germination" (VBP-G). Thus, differences were established between the techniques regarding the weed seeds considered viable. A total of 3475 "viable" seeds m-2 (9.85% of the total seed bank) and 31795 "non viable" seeds m-2 (90.15% of the total seed bank) were determined by using the VBP method. After application of five germination cycles of both categories, 189 seeds m-2 did not germinate although they had been estimated as "viable'' by the VPB method. No significant differences (p=0.15, f= 2.33) were found between the viability values obtained by the VBP and germination methods. Thus, large differences in the "non-viable" category appeared, since 2549 seeds m-2 germinated despite being estimated as "non-viable" by the VBP technique. The results showed that a significant soil seed bank estimate was obtained when applying the VBP technique, i.e., overestimation (VBP-VBP/G) did not reach a significant level (0.53% of the soil seed bank total). The use of VBP technique results in a lower "viable" seed number prediction and a modified seed bank proportion.
weed ecology; seed viability; seed bank; estimating technique; integrated weed management
