Pot-culture experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ash incorporation in soil on germination and stand establishment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and lentil (Lens esculenta Moench.) during the winter season of 1995, and rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) during the summer season of 1996. Ash levels tested were 0, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% for winter-season crops, and 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for summer-season crops. Changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics due to ash addition were analyzed. Germination time, defined as the time taken for 75% germination (60% in case of mustard), and delay index, a normalized parameter, were introduced to evaluate ash-incorporation effects on germination of crops. Ash addition in soil delayed germination of crops due to the increased impedance offered by the soil matrix to germinating seeds. Rice and maize were relatively less sensitive to ash for germination than winter-season crops. Mustard was most affected for germination and stand establishment. The delay index showed variations between crops as well as for ash levels within a crop.