Z Katedry Ogrodnictwa
Akademii Rolniczej we Wrocławiu
Abstract. White clover and common serradella showed the highest suitability as the living mulches in leek production, while winter rape appeared to be the most competitive species for this vegetable crop. The highest biomass and amounts of NPK nutrients was supplied into the soil with winter rape, followed by white clover and serradella.
Key words:
living mulches, leek, manurial value
The suitability and manurial value of some plant species
as the living mulches in leek production
Summary
The aim of the field experiment conducted in 2002-2003 was to evaluate the impact of white clover, common serradella and winter rape sown as the living mulches 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks from the date of transplanting on the quantity and quality of leek yield. All tested cover crops reduced the marketable leek yield in the case of sowing in 3 and 5 weeks after transplanting. Winter rape, which appeared to be most the competitive for leek, reduced this yield also in treatment undersown 7 weeks after planting. White clover was found as the most preferable species for leek yield as well as dry matter content. Higher dry matter and vitamin C contents in the edible parts of leek was also observed when the sowing terms of living mulches were delayed to 7 and 9 weeks.
Winter rape produced the highest yield of biomass and was the richest source of NPK nutrients provided to the soil, followed by white clover and common serradella.