The effect of water extracts from leaves of Festuca rubra, F. ovina and F. Arundinacea on the initial growth and development of other grass species

The allelopathic effect of plants is one of the least known factors determining the stability of lawn swards. Leaves are a rich source of allelopathic substances. Washed out by rain or dew drops, or released during biomass decomposition, these substances can impact plants. In practice, cut sward is often left on the lawn surface and can have an allelopathic effect on regrowing plants. The effect of released allelochemicals depends on many factors, including their concentration. Hence, in order to maintain the high functional properties of the lawn, information is needed on the critical concentrations of allelochemicals inhibiting plant growth and development. Laboratory research was thus undertaken (on Petri dishes) to evaluate the effect of various water extracts of leaves of selected lawn grass cultivars. The following cultivars were the donors: 'Areta', 'Nimba', 'Olivia' ( Festuca rubra ) ; 'Espro', 'Pintor' ( F. ovina ),and 'Asterix' ( F. arundinacea ) , while the acceptors were: 'Niwa' ( Agrostis capillaris ), 'Asterix' ( Festuca arundinacea ), 'Espro' ( F. ovina ), 'Areta' ( F. rubra ), 'Stadion' ( Lolium perenne ), and 'Bila' ( Poa pratensis ) – the species frequently sown in lawns. In the control treatments, distilled water was applied to the substrate. The experiment revealed that the effect of water extracts of leaves varied depending on their concentration and donor variety as well as the sensitivity of the acceptor (the test plant). In comparison with the control treatments, the strongest negative impact was caused by the cultivars 'Olivia' ( F. rubra )and 'Pintor' ( F. ovina ), followed by 'Asterix' ( F. arundinacea ) . Among the acceptors, the greatest sensitivity to the presence of allelochemicals was shown by A. capillaris, and the smallest by F. arundinacea. .