Mulching has become increasingly common during recent decades not only in commercial horticulture. Mulching is especially important in organic farming. Crops are influenced by many factors when mulches are used. The field experiment was carried out in Aleksandras Stulginskis University (54º53'N, 23º50'E) in 2007–2009. The soil type – Calc(ar)i – Endohypogleyic Luvisol. Factor A – mulching: 1) without mulch; 2) straw; 3) peat; 4) sawdust; 5) grass. Factor B – thickness of mulch layer: 1) 5 cm; 2) 10 cm. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of organic mulches and different thickness of mulch layer on agrocenosis. The effect of grass mulch on vegetable agrocenosis was stronger compared with straw, peat and sawdust mulches. Mulching with 10 cm thickness of grass mulch layer had stronger effect compared with 5 cm thickness of grass mulch layer only at the 2nd and 3rd year of mulching. The condition of agrocenosis in plots without mulch declined and in plots mulched with 10 cm thickness of mulch layer improved.
Plants, as well as their residues (mulches), release physiologically active substances (allelochemicals), which may affect plant germination, development, and productivity. In this study we investigated the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of organic mulches (winter wheat straw, peat, sawdust, and gramineous grass) at different concentrations on germination and early growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.), carrot (Daucus sativus Röhl.), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). It was found, that the strongest negative effect on the germination and shoot and root development of investigated vegetables was with the highest concentration (1 : 10) of the grass aqueous extract. Peat mulch aqueous extracts had the least negative impact on all vegetable seed germination. Straw and peat mulches stimulated the early growth of R. sativus shoots, but there was a negative affect on D. sativus shoot development. The aqueous extracts of various organic mulches had negative effects on R. sativus, while mostly positive effects found on L. sativa root development.
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