Stubble Mulch Studies: Effect of Sweetclover Extract on Corn Germination

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Abstract
Portions of sweet clover hay were cut into short lengths and placed in flasks with varying amts. of water, Corn seeds were then added and soaked for 24 hrs. Five seeds from each flask were then placed on an agar medium in Petri dishes in quadruplicate and the plates were incubated at room temp. After 3 days the root and top growth of the corn seedlings were measured and compared with those of seeds soaked in dist. water. The sweet clover had a more depressing effect on germination and seedling growth than did alfalfa, wheat straw, or oat straw. Even at a dilution of 1 part sweet clover to 10 parts of water, growth was reduced.