Jong-Il Chung

Allelopathic Effects of Crimson Clover, Hariy Vetch and Rye on Germination and Radicle Elongation of Several Crops

Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale) are common leguminous cover crops. Because they contain water-soluble allelopathic substances that show a variable level in tissue depending on growth stage of the plants, the weed inhibition effects are dependent on the growth stage of cover crops. This study investigated the allelopathic effects of crimson clover, hairy vetch and rye on soybean, radish, oilseed rape and lettuce seeds germination and seedling growth. We used extract that were prepared from the shoots of crimson clover, hairy vetch and rye at different growth stages, vegetative growth stage, flowering stage, and fruiting stage. Applications of aqueous extracts from three growth stage of cover crops strongly affected to oilseed rape and lettuce seeds germination but the treatment resulted in a slight inhibition of the germination in soybean and radish. Radical length was more sensitive to aqueous extracts than seed germination rate. Especially, three cover crops extracts at vegetative growth stage highly inhibited seedling root growth of oilseed rape and lettuce by over 80% and 90% respectively. Furthermore, the GR50 values were lowest in the treatment of extracts from vegetative growth stage and the level of phenolics was decreased by the order of vegetative growth stage, flowering stage and fruiting stage.