Abstract
Owing to an increasing demand for food, a constant agricultural production flow must be maintained. Further, for doing so, the use of pesticides is necessary. An alternative that results in less damage to the ecosystem and people themselves may be identified by studies on the allelopathic effect of weeds. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the allelopathic action of hexane, dichloromethane, butanol, and ethyl acetate fractions of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) on the initial growth of morning glory (Ipomoea grandifolia [Dammer] O’Donell) and slim amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.), which was verified by the percentage of germination, speed of germination, seedling length, and fresh and dry biomass weight. The experiments were conducted in an incubation chamber at 25 °C for 7 and 14 days for morning glory and slim amaranth, respectively. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replicates in Petri dishes. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance, and the averages between each treatment were compared using the Scott Knott test at a 5% significance level. The results indicated that the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions decreased the initial growth of morning glory and slim amaranth more, when compared with the effects of hexane and butanol.
Highlights
Using a BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) incubator (Logen), the germination and initial growth of the invading plants Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O’Donell and Amaranthus hybridus L. were evaluated in the presence or absence of dichloromethane, hexane, butanol, and ethyl acetate fractions of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Allelopathic substances are capable of inhibiting germination and growth, as they interfere with cell division, membrane permeability, enzyme activation, and hormone production in plants (Rodrigues, Rodrigues, & Reis, 1992)
Research conducted in the field by Trezzi and Vidal (2004) showed that sorghum straw, when increased in terms of its soil cover, reduced infestations of Brachiaria. plantaginea and Sida. rhombifolia weeds
Summary
In Brazil, the population increases on average by about one person every 20 s (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística [IBGE], 2016). There is an increasing demand for food, which can be addressed by developing agriculture and livestock technologies. Because of the need for increased production, it is necessary for most farmers to use pesticides, which can cause an ecological imbalance, especially when used inconsistently and in excess. The considerable increase in the use of applied agrochemicals could bring about a series of disturbances and modifications in the environment, either by the contamination of the living communities that compose the environment or by the accumulation of the agrochemicals in the biotic and abiotic segments of the ecosystem (Ribas & Matsumura, 2009)
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