Two experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the possible allelopathic effect of 18 weed species on the initial development of eucalyptus (Eucaliptus grandis). In the first experiment, Bracharia decumbens (BRADC) caused the strongest effects mainly on the development of the upper part of the plants. In the second experiment, BRADC dry matter was added to the soil to evaluate the effect on the initial development of E. grandis seedlings. The dry matter concentrations evaluated were: 0% (check), 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% w/w, incorporated into the soil. The experiment was replicated, by adding identical total quantities of carbon to the treatments. The amount of carbon was adjusted by adding Sphagnum. Soil solution was extracted through porous porcelain capsules placed in the pots (39 days after E. grandis seedling transplantation). The following analyses of soil solutions collected at the end of the tests were performed: pH and electric conductivity, osmotic potential,and nutrient level analysis. Soil solution analysis of the treatments allowed to conclude that the nutrient level and the chemical characteristics of the solutions were slightly altered by the treatments, being unlikely that the reduction of E. grandis is due to restrictions on the quantities of the available nutrients.
allelopathy; decomposition; soil solution; forest; weeds species
