Allelopathic effect of sorghum extract and residues on selected crops and weeds.

Abstract

To better understand the allelopathic effect of sorghum(Sorghum vulgare L.), the inhibitory activities of water extracts of the stem, leaf and root, and of residues of the stem to major crops and weeds associated with them were evaluated. The allelopathic activity of sorghum plants was species specific, and depended on source and concentration. Germination, and shoot and root length of all test species were inhibited by the different concentrations of the stem extract. Among the crop species, radish showed the most inhibition, followed by wheat and rice. Maize was the least sensitive species. Of the weed species, Ipomoea triloba was most inhibited, followed by Echinochloa colona and Rottboellia cochinchinensis. The water extracts of leaves, stems, and roots significantly inhibited germination and seedling growth in E. colona and radish. The stem extract gave the greatest inhibitory effect on E. colona while all three extracts produced similar response in radish. In the greenhouse trial, sorghum stem residue placed on the soil surface as mulch significantly inhibited seedling growth in E. colona and radish, but not that in rice.