Following an experiment where Zea mays and Cucurbita pepo seeds were planted individually and together, results showed a positive allelopathic effect on germination and seeling lenght as both seeds had 100% germination when planted together as against 92 and 96% when planted individually. The seedling length was also positively influenced by this interaction.
My question now is:
Why do the allelopathic produce this positive effect?
Let's look at the 3 sister production system of the American Indians composed of maize, dry beans, and squash or pumpkins.
Squash and pumpkin are very good for competing and surpassing weeds. Beans provide nitrogen favoring the production of maize in particular
Finally the use of maize and the others together reduce insect pest issues.
In this system beans use the maize stalks as a biological pole support system
Not only does this have complementary but the needed result is a balanced diet that promotes complete human and animal nutrition.
These systems developed over thousands of years of innovative farmer experience passed on in traditional farming techniques many of which are being lost in the modern focus on simplified monocultures.
Allelopathic substances can be stimulatory or inhibitory depending on the dose
There are ample articles to learn on this issue. You can browse an article with this phrase; Allelopathy and Its Implications in Agroecosystems.
Thank you!
Carine Temegne Nono No, there wasn't a significant difference between 96 and 100% germination in Pumpkin, but there was with 92 and 100% in Maize.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Seeds