Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

S. Chovancová, R.W. Neugschwandtner, E. Ebrahimi and H.P. Kaul:

Effects of aqueous above-ground biomass extracts of cover crops on germination and seedlings of maize

Summary

Allelopathic effects of cover crop residues in the upper soil layer may affect crop establishment and thus final yield;
this is of special concern for non-tillering and wide-spaced crops like maize (Zea mays) in reduced tillage systems.
Therefore, aqueous extracts of above-ground field collected biomass of the cover crops faba bean (Vicia faba), white
mustard (Sinapis alba), phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), spring oat (Avena sativa) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
at concentrations of 1 %, 5 % and 10 % were tested for their influence on germination indices and seedling characteristics of maize under laboratory conditions. Total germination and germination speed was generally impaired with increasing extract concentration; the detrimental effect was smallest with mustard and phacelia and largest with faba bean extracts. Seedling root growth was generally more strongly affected by extracts than shoot growth presumably due to the more intensive contact of roots with the extracts. Key words: Faba bean, white mustard, phacelia, spring oat, sunflower.