Allelopatic and sowing depth effects of river red gum on seed germination and initial growth of sainfoin

ABSTRACT Inthis study, allelopathic potential of Eucalyptus canaldulensis and sowing depth was studies on germination characteristics and vegetative growth of Onobrychis sativa seedlings using completely randomized design with four replications and two factors. The first factor was aqueous extracts of 1, 2, 3, and 5% of eucalyptus leaf powder in 1000 g of soil and the second factor was sowing depth in four levels including 0.5 as control, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 cm. Effect of allelopathic, sowing depth and their interaction on all traits but root length was significant. Effect of eucalyptus on shoot dry weight was more than other traits. On the whole, increasing in sowing depth had a negative effect on all traits and when allelopathy and sowing depth integrated, their negative effects were more significantly than their sole effects. Therefore, considering of allelopathy and sowing depth could have a determinative role in the eucalyptus growing lands.