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Stubble Mulch Studies: III. Influence of Soil Microorganisms and Crop Residues on the Germination, Growth and Direction of Root Growth and Corn Seedlings
Author(s) -
McCalla T. M.,
Duley F. L.
Publication year - 1950
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1950.036159950014000c0044x
Subject(s) - mulch , germination , agriculture , crop , soil conservation , agronomy , mathematics , horticulture , biology , ecology
IN the system of stubble-mulch farming (6), which is widely used in the Great Plains area, crop residues are being employed to protect the land against erosion by wind and water. In a few instances wheat straw, commonly used as a mulching material, has been observed to reduce slightly the stand and growth of corn, particularly during wet, cool periods of weather. This led to an investigation of the effect of leachings from straw, sweetclover, and other plant materials on the germination and early growth of corn (12). Since germination and seedling growth were reduced under certain conditions in the laboratory, there is a possibility • that plant residues might contain some chemical substance affecting germination and^growth of corn in the field. The residues might also furnish food for soil microorganisms which could produce some organic substance detrimental to the growth of plants (1, 2, 7, 8, 13). Laboratory investigations were started to discover if possible the cause of stand and growth retardation of corn sometimes observed following wheat with the stubble-mulch method. Microbial growth in the .cultures in many instances not only reduced germination and growth, but caused the roots to grow upward. The purpose of this paper is to give a report on some of the chemical substances and laboratory conditions favorable for the growth of microorganisms that influenced growth and caused roots of corn seedlings to grow upward. The influence of water extract from plant material on corn germination was studied as was the effect of mulching the soil with plant residues.