Germination and initial growth of four cover crops as a function of liquid organic fertilization.

Abstract

The application of compounds rich in humic substances in agriculture may improve the soil attributes and development of plants, but with unknown effects in seed germination, which may be inhibited or induced. Therefore, we aimed to study the germination and initial growth of four cover crops as a function of liquid organic matter (LOM) application. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design and a 4 x 3 factorial scheme (four legume species: Mucuna aterrima, Mucuna cinereum, Crotalaria spectabilis e Crotalaria breviflora and three levels of LOM: absence (0.0 g L-1), low concentration (28.0 g L-1), and high concentration (56.0 g L-1). The analyses were: germination (%), index speed germination, average germination time (days), and seedling root and shoot lengths (cm). The use of LOM determined an increase in seedling germination and growth of Mucuna aterrima and Crotalaria spectabilis, especially Crotalaria spectabilis seeds, which when exposed to 2.5% LOM presented a 40% increase in germination, reaching values of 98%.