The influence of plant mulches on the content of phenolic compounds in soil and primary weed infestation of maize

Abstract

In growing maize, an increase in the content of phenolic compounds and selected phenolic acids in soil was found after the incorporation of white mustard, buckwheat, spring barley, oats and rye mulches into the soil. The highest content of phenolic compounds in soil was found after oats mulch incorporation (20% more than in the control soil). The highest content of selected phenolic acids was found for the soil with the oats and rye mulch. Among the phenolic acids investigated, ferulic acid was most commonly found in the soil with the plant mulches. However, two phenolic acids: the protocatechuic and chlorogenic acid, were not detected in any soil samples (neither in the control soil nor in the mulched soil). At the same time, a decrease in the primary weed infestation level in maize was found in the plots with all the applied plant mulches, especially on the plots with oats, barley and mustard. The plant mulches were more inhibitory against monocotyledonous weeds than dicotyledonous ones. During high precipitation events and wet weather, a rapid decrease in the content of phenolic compounds in soil and an increase in the primary weed infestation level in maize were observed.