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Dep. of Agronomy, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506-5501 USA
gmpaul{at}ksu.edu
| ABSTRACT |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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Grain sorghum was allelopathic to many crops and weeds (Alsaadawi et al., 1986; Einhellig and Rasmussen, 1989). Water extracts from sorghum residues inhibited germination and decreased root and shoot growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Guenzi et al., 1967). Weed growth was suppressed up to 1 yr following grain sorghum compared with corn or soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (Einhellig and Rasmussen, 1989). Radicle growth of green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv], velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medikus), and smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.) was reduced by grain sorghum seedlings (Hoffman et al., 1996). Residues of sorghumsudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. sudanense] cover crops preceding no-till establishment of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) significantly reduced weed populations compared with no residue or foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv] residue (Fortney and Foy, 1985).
Phenolic acids from decomposing residue and roots were probably responsible for growth and yield reductions associated with allelopathy of sorghum (Einhellig and Rasmussen, 1978). They were identified as the allelopathic agents more often than all other classes of compounds combined (Mandava, 1984). Guenzi and McCalla (1966) quantified five phenolic acids in sorghum residueferulic, p-coumaric, syringic, vanillic, and p-hydroxybenzoic. The concentration of coumaric acid was greatest and sufficient to reduce growth of other species. Cherney et al. (1991) also found vanillic acid, p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid in four sorghum hybrids; again the concentration of p-coumaric was highest followed by ferulic acid.
Two other compounds, dhurrin and sorgoleone, were associated with allelopathy by sorghum. Dhurrin, a cyanogenic glycoside that degraded to p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, HCN, and glucose, reduced germination of radish (Raphanus sativus L.), okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and inhibited the growth of various bacteria (Nicollier et al., 1983). Sorgoleone, a long-chain hydroquionone exuded from growing sorghum roots (Netzly and Butler, 1986), reduced growth of various weed species at concentrations as low as 10 µM (Einhellig and Souza, 1992).
The concentration and effect of allelochemicals in grain sorghum differed among environmental conditions, cultivars, and plant parts. Water extracts of field-grown sorghum affected growth of wheat seedlings differently over 2 yr (Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995a). The allelopathic potential of decomposing sorghum residue decreased with time and had no effect on wheat seedlings after 28 wk (Guenzi et al., 1967). Concentrations of phenolic compounds in sorghum differed considerably among cultivars and always decreased as the plants matured (Woodhead, 1981). Environmental factors also affected the level of phenolics in residue. High irradiance and attacks by insects and pathogenic fungi increased the phenolic content of the residue, depending on the cultivar and its development stage. Water extracts from six sorghum hybrids differed in inhibition of wheat seedling growth. Stems, leaves, and roots were most inhibitory, reducing radicle elongation of wheat by up to 75% compared with water controls (Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995a).
Allelopathic effects of sorghum on wheat might be alleviated in several ways. Genetic differences in the allelopathic potential of sorghum suggest that hybrids might be selected for low inhibition of wheat (Woodhead, 1981; Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995a). Winter wheat cultivars that resist the major inhibitory compounds in sorghum also might be planted, but genetic variation for the trait has not been reported. Because the allelopathic potential dissipated by decomposition over time (Guenzi et al., 1967), the sorghum residue might be managed to reduce inhibition of the following wheat crop. Objectives of these experiments were to (i) ascertain the variability in responses of popular winter wheat cultivars to allelopathic compounds in sorghum and (ii) determine the effect of conventional and reduced tillage management of sorghum residues on wheat growth and productivity.
| Materials and methods |
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After harvest, one of the sorghum main plots and the fallowed main plot were tilled twice by discing; the other sorghum plot was not tilled. Nitrogen fertility was equalized according to soil tests by applying 112 kg N/ha as NH4NO3 to the sorghum main plots. No N was needed on fallowed plots. Other nutrients were adequate for wheat (Kansas Cooperative Extension Service, 1997). The seven wheat cultivars were planted on 17 Oct. 1996 at the rate of 101 kg/ha in 1.5 by 12 m plots and a row spacing of 25 cm. Weeds were controlled manually as needed; no pesticides were applied during the season.
The study was conducted similarly on an adjacent, separate area during the second season. A main plot of millet was added to each replication to simulate soil moisture conditions in the sorghum plots. Bioassays by the procedure of Ben-Hammouda et al. (1995a, 1995b) did not detect any allelopathicity of water extracts of mature millet tissues on Cardinal wheat. Millet main plots were randomized with the sorghum and fallowed main plots, and the seven wheat cultivars were subplots in a split-plot design with three replications. All plot dimensions were the same as during the first year.
Sorghum hybrid Taylor Evans Y-101G and millet hybrid 79-2068 x 89-0083 (Courtesy of W.D. Stegmeier, Kansas State Univ.) were planted on 6 June 1997 and harvested on 7 Oct. 1997. After harvest, one of the sorghum main plots and the fallowed main plot in each replication were tilled; the other sorghum main plot and the millet main plot were not tilled. The seven wheat cultivars were planted on 21 Oct. 1997 and fertilized, with the grain sorghum and millet main plots received 101 kg N/ha and the fallowed main plots received 56 kg N/ha as NH4NO3.
Wheat Performance
Wheat seedling emergence was counted in two 1 m long rows that were selected randomly within each subplot both years. Seedlings were counted once each week until emergence ceased, and results were expressed as an emergence promptness index (EPI) that incorporated their number and rate of emergence:
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Chlorophyll concentration in the flag leaves of five randomly selected wheat plants within each subplot was measured at the boot stage (Feekes 10) using a Minolta Spad-502 meter (Tokyo, Japan). Shoot N concentration of five randomly selected plants within each subplot was measured at the same growth stage. Samples were dried at 60°C to constant weight, ground to 1.7-mm mesh, and analyzed for total N using a CN-2000 Carbon/Protein/Nitrogen Elemental Analyzer (Leco Corp., St. Joseph, MI).
Two 0.3 m long rows were sampled randomly from all subplots at ripeness (Feekes 11.4) to determine the harvest index both years. All aboveground material was harvested and dried at 60°C to constant weight and weighed, and the grain was threshed and weighed separately. In 1998, the number of spikes and the mass of 1000 kernels in the samples were measured, and the mean kernel number per spike and kernel weight were calculated.
The inner three rows of each subplot were harvested with a grain bundler (Model B300D, Suzue Agricultural Equipment Co., Nankoku, Japan) and then threshed (Almaco, Ames, IA) on 11 July 1997. All rows of each subplot were harvested with a Hege 125 plot combine (Waldenberg, Germany) on 1 July 1998. In both years, moisture content of the grain was determined with a Dickey-John GAC 2000 grain sampler (Auburn, IL). Grain yields were adjusted to 13.5% moisture.
Weather Conditions
Precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture were recorded at a nearby weather station. During the 1996 sorghum growing season, precipitation totaled 390 mm and the average daily mean temperature was 23°C. Rainfall during the first 2 mo after planting the wheat totaled 130 mm, and the daily mean temperature was 9°C. From March to June 1997, precipitation totaled 290 mm, and the average daily mean temperature was 15°C. During the 1997 sorghum and millet growing season, total rainfall was 290 mm, and the mean daily temperature was 24°C. For wheat during the second year, rainfall was 100 mm and mean daily temperature was 11°C during the first 2 mo after planting, and rainfall was 360 mm and mean daily temperature was 15°C from March though June 1998. Soil moisture was not measured. Weather station data and moisture probes indicated that precipitation during September and/or October brought the topsoil and subsoil to field capacity to a 122-cm depth both years.
Statistical Analyses
Data were analyzed by conventional analysis of variance procedures for split-plot designs. Treatment means were compared by least significant differences (P = 0.05).
| Results |
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Wheat Emergence and Growth
Emergence rate of wheat was affected significantly by cultivars and residue treatments during the 2 yr of the study (Fig. 1)
. Tomahawk emerged faster than the other cultivars during the first season, and Coronado, 2137, Ike, and Cardinal emerged fastest during the second season. Fallow and no-till millet favored rapid emergence of wheat during the first and second seasons, respectively.
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Spike density at maturity was affected by cultivar and residue treatments and by their interaction (Fig. 2) . Jagger and Cardinal generally had low stand densities during the first season, and the same cultivars plus Karl 92 and Tomahawk had low stand densities during the second season. Differences among residue treatments were inconsistent, however, because of the interaction. Spike densities of two cultivars were higher after no-till sorghum than after tilled sorghum, but densities of two other cultivars were higher after fallow than after no-till sorghum in 1997. The stands were more uniform among tillage treatments in 1998, and the only effect noted was a slightly lower density for Coronado after no-till sorghum than after fallow.
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Wheat Yield and Yield Components
Grain yields differed significantly among cultivar and residue treatments both years (Fig. 3)
. Coronada, Tomahawk, and Cardinal were higher yielding the first season, and Coronada, 2137, Tomahawk, and Ike yielded more the second season. Yields were often lower after no-till sorghum than after fallow during both seasons. Grain yields of all wheat cultivars after fallow exceeded yields after no-till sorghum in 1997, and yields following tilled sorghum were usually intermediate. Four of the cultivarsJagger, Karl 92, Tomahawk, and Ikeresponded similarly in 1998, with higher grain yields after fallow than after no-till sorghum. Yields of the other cultivars did not differ among the residue treatments.
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Cultivar and residue treatments significantly affected harvest index but responses varied because of their interaction (Fig. 4) . Jagger had a lower harvest index after no-till sorghum than after tilled sorghum, and 2137 and Karl 92 had lower harvest indices after no-till sorghum than after both fallow and tilled sorghum in 1997. In 1998, Coronado and Ike had lower harvest indices after tilled sorghum and no-till sorghum and millet, respectively, and Tomahawk had a lower harvest index after millet than after no-till sorghum.
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| Discussion |
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Responses of the wheat cultivars to no-till sorghum differed substantially from the responses to tilled sorghum. The small effects of no-till sorghum on emergence and stand establishment of wheat during both autumns suggested that the allelopathic compounds were not released immediately into the soil. However, depressed wheat grain yields in the following summers indicated that the allelopathic compounds were solubilized and leached from the sorghum stover during the winter and spring. Yields of all seven wheat cultivars were reduced in the first year, and yields of four cultivars were reduced in the second year after no-till sorghum compared with fallow.
Solubilization and leaching of allelopathic compounds from the stubble of no-till sorghum undoubtedly depended on precipitation, as was the case with sorghum incorporated into soil (Purvis, 1990). The amount, intensity, and duration of precipitation and the air temperature probably influenced the leaching pattern of allelopathic compounds, just as they affected loss of other soluble constituents from senescing tissue (Noodén, 1980). The delayed effect of no-till sorghum also suggested that allelopathic compounds degraded slowly, if at all, in nonincorporated stover compared with their rapid degradation in soil (Guenzi et al., 1967).
Genetic differences in the allelopathic potential among sorghum hybrids were evident in previous reports (Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995a, 1995b). Sorghum hybrids differed in the phenolic contents of the residues (Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995b) and in their effects on radicle elongation of one wheat cultivar (Ben-Hammouda et al., 1995a). Our results, in contrast, found no consistent differences in tolerance to sorghum residue among the wheat cultivars. Some differences in responses of the wheat cultivars to allelopathy were evident during different growth stages, but none of the cultivars was resistant at both the seedling and grain filling stages. If they were available, cultivars that resist allelopathy during the latter stage might be combined with suitable tillage of sorghum residue for highest yields of wheat.
Our results suggest that the effect of sorghum residue on the following wheat crop depends in large part on the degree of decomposition of the stover before the wheat is planted. Prompt tillage of the stover after harvest of the sorghum could alleviate allelopathy by extending the duration for decomposition and, in many cases, enabling it to occur at a more favorable soil temperature before wheat is planted. Although it was not investigated here, chopping the sorghum stover finely also might accelerate decomposition. The beneficial effects of adequate soil moisture (Purvis, 1990) also suggest that irrigation of dry soil could promote decomposition and lessen allelopathy from sorghum on wheat.
The merits of practices that reduce allelopathy from sorghum must be weighed against the soil-conserving benefits of not tilling the stover. Tillage should only be considered when the soil is not subject to erosion from water and wind. Sorghum residue on highly erodible soil should not be tilled.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| NOTES |
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Received for publication February 12, 1999.
| REFERENCES |
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