Substances from corn roots influence wheat yields

Wheat field on the Agroscope trial site in Posieux FR. Image: Valentin Gfeller - Corn roots secrete certain substances that affect the quality of the soil. In certain fields, this effect increases the yield of wheat planted after corn in the same soil by more than 4%. This has been demonstrated by researchers at the University of Bern. Although the findings from several field experiments show that such effects are highly variable, they could nevertheless contribute in the long term to making the cultivation of cereals more sustainable without additional fertilizers or pesticides. Plants produce a wealth of specialized chemical substances. Some of these are also released into the soil, influencing its quality.