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The effect of Cirsium arvense plant residues on the germination of some crops

Joseph Horvath1, Gabriella Kazinczi2, Imre Béres1 and Andras Takacs2

1University of Veszprém, Georgikon Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, H-8361 Keszthely, P.O. Box 71. Hungary www.georgikon.hu Email H @11895hor@ella.hu
2
Office for Academy Research Groups Attached to Universities and Other Institutions, University of Veszprém, H-8361 Keszthely, P.O.Box 71. Hungary www.mta.hu Email H @11895hor@ella.hu

Abstract

Pot experiments were carried out under glasshouse conditions in order to study the shoot and root residues of Cirsium arvense on the germination of some crop species. Freshly collected C. arvense shoots and roots were cut into small pieces. Each of dried shoots and roots of C. arvense were mixed into a soil mixture of sand and peat (0.8 kg dried plant parts x 10 kg-1 soil mixture). After three months of decomposition, plastic pots were filled with the soil mixture containing C. arvense shoot and root residues. Pots were sown with 100 seeds each of winter wheat, maize, sunflower, barley, tomato, garden cress, cucumber, sugarbeet and rape in six replicates. Germination percentage were recorded daily and tests continued for 14 days after sowing. It is concluded, that - depending on test species and plant parts - plant resisdues did not influence, retard (by 1-29%) and promote (by 1-17%) germination of test species as compared to the control. Germination of maize and sunflower was not influenced by the plant residues. It has been seemed that C. arvense roots were more toxic on germination, than shoot residues. Germination of cucumber, wheat and tomato was inhibited by 29, 20 and 17%, respectively due to the C. arvense root residues. At the same time germination of cucumber was enhanced by 17% due to C. arvense shoot extracts. Future investigations are necessary in order to study the allelopathic effect of plant residues on the development of test species.

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