Pot-culture experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ash i
ncorporation in soil on germination and stand establishment of wheat (
Triticum aestivum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), mustard (Brassic
a juncea L.) and lentil (Lens esculenta Moench.) during the winter sea
son of 1995, and rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) during
the summer season of 1996. Ash levels tested were 0, 10%, 20%, 30% an
d 40% for winter-season crops, and 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for summer-
season crops. Changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics du
e to ash addition were analyzed. Germination time, defined as the time
taken for 75% germination (60% in case of mustard), and delay index,
a normalized parameter were introduced to evaluate ash-incorporation e
ffects on germination of crops. Ash addition in soil delayed germinati
on of crops due to the increased impedance offered by the soil matrix
to germinating seeds. Rice and maize were relatively less sensitive to
ash for germination than winter-season crops. Mustard was most affect
ed for germination and stand establishment. The delay index showed var
iations between crops as well as for ash level within a crop. (C) 1997
Elsevier Science Ltd.