Herbicidal activity and crop injury of aqueous extracts of sorghum leaves

Abstract

Herbicidal effects and crop selectivity of aqueous leaf extracts of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) were evaluated against several weed species for developing sustainable weed management in organic farming. Aqueous sorghum leaf extracts were highly phytotoxic to different weed species. No broadleaf weeds were germinated in the concentration of 5 fold or higher concentrated sorghum leaf extracts and 90% of seed germination was inhibited within that range in grass species. Sorghum leaf extracts strongly inhibited the growth of different weeds by pre-emergence and foliar applications in greenhouse condition. Foliar application of sorghum leaf extracts had a higher inhibitory effect than the pre-emergence application. Broadleaf weed species were more susceptible than grasses to the application of sorghum leaf extract in foliar applications than grasses. Galium spurium, Erigeron candensis, and Rumex japonicus were completely killed at the highest concentrated sorghum leaf extract both in pre-emergence and foliar application. Most broadleaf weed species were inhibited more than 80% at pre-emergence application at 50 fold concentrated sorghum leaf extract. G. spurium, E. candensis, R. japonicus, Eclipta alba, Plantago asiatica and Portulaca oleraeea were most susceptible to sorghum leaf extract in foliar application. Growth of most broad leaf weed species was suppressed by greater than 90% at 50 fold concentrated sorghum leaf extract. Most crop species were tolerant to sorghum leaf extract but shoot growth was slightly reduced by the application of 40~50 fold concentrated extracts, Sorghum leaf extract may used to control weeds in organic fanning without affecting the growth of crop.