Analysis of the Ecological Method of Treatment in the Aspect of Increasing the Vitality and Healthiness of Spring Barley Grains Hordeum vulgare L.

The work presents the results of investigations on the ecological method of spring barley grains dressing, which would improve their vitality and healthiness, without negative impact on natural environment. The experiment evaluated the effect of plant extracts on germination capacity and surface contamination of Hordeum vulgare L. grains 'Stratus' variety. In the investigations were used an aqueous extracts, in the form of macerates, infusions and decoctions, prepared from various morphological parts of 40 plant species. The research was aimed at identifying plant species which extracts, while stimulating germination of barley grains, limited their surface contamination by microorganisms. In addition, it was analyzed which method of obtaining extracts most effectively stimulated the vitality and healthiness of the tested grains. The above is extremely important because use of aqueous extracts in plant protection will lead to reduction in the use of synthetic agents in integrated agriculture, and in organic farming can strengthen the resistance of the environment, by protecting its biodiversity. Analysis of the obtained results showed that the activity of the extracts depended on the plant species and the method of preparation of aqueous extracts. The germination capacity of spring barley grains was stimulated by extracts prepared from 42.5% of plants. The most beneficial effect was observed for extracts from the Marrubium vulgare green parts, Crataegus oxyacantha flowers and Frangula alnus bark. The number of barley grains, settled by microorganisms, was limited by 57.5% of extracts, especially extracts prepared from Juglans regia leaves, Acorus calamus roots and green parts of Marrubium vulgare. The grains contamination was limited by the use of all forms of extracts from Acorus calamus roots, Juglans regia leaves, green parts of Marrubium vulgare, Lavandula vera flowers, Frangula alnus bark and Quercus robur bark. Comparing the average reaction of the spring barley grains to the plant extracts used for their treatment, it was found that decoctions positively affected on the germination capacity and the limitation of the number of contaminated grains. The investigations also showed that preferably on grains germination and simultaneous limitation of its contamination influenced all forms of extracts from Acorus calamus roots, Frangula alnus roots, Inula helenium roots, Juglans regia leaves, Linum usitatissimum seeds and young sprouds of Pinus sylvestris. The observed in many tested combinations improvement in vitality and healthiness of grains may have resulted from the fact that plant extracts were a source of active substances which (in varying degree) inhibited the growth and development of microorganisms. Additionally, the conducted research proved that the effect of plant extracts depended on the method of their preparation, which probably influenced on the formation of different chemical compounds profiles.