GROWTH AND YIELD OF 'HAMBURG' PARSLEY UNDER NO-TILLAGE CULTIVATION USING WHITE MUSTARD AS A COVER CROP

Abstract

No-tillage cultivation using cover crops is an important part of sustainable horticulture, however there are only few date on this subject related to ‘Hamburg’ parsley. In two years` field experiment no-tillage cultivation using white mustard as a cover crop did not affect germination of ‘Hamburg’ parsley cv. Alba but further growth of no-tilled plants was slower. Yield of no-tilled plants with leaves was lower and the share of leaves in this yield was higher. Roots of no-tilled parsley were shorter and of lower weight, their yield was also lower but their health status was better. No-tillage did not have a negative effect on content of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in parsley leaves. No-tilled roots contained dry matter, total sugars and essential oils more and the content of L-ascorbic acid and of monosaccharides did not depend on cultivation method. No-tilled soil covered with mustard mulch was more moist, less porous and of higher bulk density. Mustard mulch controlled annual weeds in interrows well but it did not control weeds germinating in rows where parsley was seeded. Control of wintering and winter hard weeds was dependent on biomass produced by mustard plants.