Abstract
The potential allelopathic (phytotoxic or beneficial) effect of barley, oat, and wheat straw mulches was evaluated on growth, mineral nutrition, and mycorrhizal status of black spruce seedlings, under greenhouse conditions. The various straws did not affect spruce seedling height growth over a 2-month growth period. The newly formed fine roots of treated and control seedlings were mycorrhizal. Oat and wheat straw significantly enhanced foliar phosphorus content, as compared with the control. All treatments significantly depressed foliar manganese content, indicating that the straws could exert a detrimental effect on manganese uptake. Therefore, it is suggested that monitoring the status of manganese in planted spruce seedlings when using allelopathic cover straw mulches be used as a method for preventing the establishment of weed species.
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