3.1 Allelopathic potential of Elymus nutans to alpine
crops
Germination force of the tested crops seeds to different extracts were
dependent on crop varieties and extract types (Figure1a).
Compared to control, the whole
extract of drooping wildryegrass had no significant effect on the
germination force of hulless barley, oat and rape, but decreased
germination force of wheat and increased that of quinoa. Significant
inhibitory effects of pieces extract on the germination force of hulless
barley, oat, wheat, and rape were detected except quinoa. Root zone soil
extracts reduced the germination force of hulless barley, oat, wheat and
rape and increased that of quinoa.
All the three kinds of extract significantly reduced the germination
percentage of tested crops as shown in Figure 1b. Oat, wheat and rape
presented similar pattern and their germination percentage decreased by
three kinds of extract compared to control, but no differences among the
extract treatments. Pieces aqueous extracts of drooping wildryegrass
significantly inhibited the germination of hulless barley and quinoa.
Hulless barley germination was sensitive to pieces aqueous extracts.
Comparably, the three extracts have less effect on the germination index
of rape and quinoa, in contrast, but they had greater impact on that of
barley, oats and wheat (Figure 1c). The root zone soil extracts could
improve the germination index of quinoa, but no effects on rape. Both
whole plant extract and pieces extract could significantly decrease the
germination index of hulless barley and oat. The effects of and the
three extracts on the germination index of wheat varied with extracts.