Abstract
The current series of experiments was conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of fennel, rue, and sage seed and plant biomass on weed species hoary cress (Lepidium draba). The effect of plants was evaluated through: seed cogermination in Petri dishes, effect of water extracts from fresh and dry plant biomass in two concentrations (50 and 100 g l-1) in Petri dishes and pots, and effect of fresh and dry plant residues in rates of 10 and 20 g kg-1 of soil. The cogermination of seeds affected germination and seedling length of hoary cress with fennel seeds having the highest inhibitory effect and reducing germination up to 34.9%. The water extracts in Petri dish essay had various effects, however the dry plant biomass in higher concentration reduced germination and seedlings growth for up to 100%. The applications of the extracts from fresh biomass in pots with soil differed from results in Petri dishes. Sage extract in higher concentration inhibited germination for 34.2%, and fennel extract reduced root length for 22.7%. The effect of incorporation of plant residues depended on the plant species and amount of the plant residues and was both stimulatory and inhibitory. The emergence reduction was the highest with incorporation of fresh rue residues.
Highlights
Weed control with chemical herbicides is certainly an indispensable measure in modern agricultural production, but herbicide application is not possible, desirable, or sufficient in every situation
Allelopathic crops are used in different ways i.e. as surface mulch, incorporated in the soil, as cover crops or as water extracts or pure allelochemicals applied as natural herbicides (Reigosa et al, 2001; Singh et al, 2001)
A number of studies reports use of different crops in weed management such as rye, wheat, buckwheat, black mustard and sunflower (Weston, 1996; Soltys et al, 2013), while allelopathic properties of essential oils, extracts and residues of aromatic and medicinal plants are recently being explored (Dhima et al, 2009; De Almeida et al, 2010)
Summary
Weed control with chemical herbicides is certainly an indispensable measure in modern agricultural production, but herbicide application is not possible, desirable, or sufficient in every situation. Excessive use of herbicides leads to various problems, such as weed resistance, herbicide residues, environmental pollution and risk to human health. Allelopathic crops are used in different ways i.e. as surface mulch, incorporated in the soil, as cover crops or as water extracts or pure allelochemicals applied as natural herbicides (Reigosa et al, 2001; Singh et al, 2001). A number of studies reports use of different crops in weed management such as rye, wheat, buckwheat, black mustard and sunflower (Weston, 1996; Soltys et al, 2013), while allelopathic properties of essential oils, extracts and residues of aromatic and medicinal plants are recently being explored (Dhima et al, 2009; De Almeida et al, 2010). Poisonous and medicinal plants from the Mediterranean region represent potential and neglected source of allelochemicals (Aliotta et al, 2008), and among them common rue (Ruta graveolens), sage (Salvia officinalis) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) possess certain allelopathic potential on other species (Aliotta et al, 1996; Pirzad et al, 2010; Itani et al, 2013)
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