EFFECT OF BEET VINASSE ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF RYEGRASS (LOLIUM-MULTIFLORUM LAM CV BARWOLTRA)

The effect of a concentrated, depotassified beet vinasse (desugared be et molasses) on both germination (in vitro and in soil) and seedling d evelopment (in soil) of ryegrass Lolium multiflorum has been studied. Germination and root elongation of the ryegrass in vitro were more neg atively affected by vinasse (concentration of 0.15 and 0.5% w) than th ose of cress (Lepidium sativum). Seedling emergence of ryegrass in pot s sown in three different soils (a moderately acid, sandy loam soil, w ithout CaCO3; a red, sandy clay loam soil, 12% CaCO3; and a light yell owish-brown sandy clay loam soil, 30% CaCO3) was, in general, not affe cted by the application of a moderate dose of pure vinasse (approximat ely 3 t ha-1) at sowing or 30 days before. Only in the acid soil was s eedling emergence significantly (P < 0.05) limited during the first we ek. The application of vinasse at sowing caused an initial significant shortening (P < 0.05) of the primary roots of ryegrass in the three s oils studied (measured at the fourth day). However, plant fresh weight s (measured at the thirtieth day) were not affected by this treatment, especially in the calcareous soils. In general, the vinasse applicati on produced beneficial results for ryegrass seedling in the three soil s.