Evaluation of Allelopathic Effects of Nigella sativa L. against Rigid Ryegrass

  • Ioannis ROUSSIS Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Ilias TRAVLOS Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Ioanna KAKABOUKI Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Spyridoula CHAVALINA Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Varvara KOUNELI Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Agapi Georgia KATSOULIERI Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Panayiota PAPASTYLIANOU Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Dimitrios BILALIS Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Keywords: Allelopathy, integrated weed management, Lolium rigidum, Nigella sativa, plant growth

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potential of Nigella sativa L. on seedling emergence and first growth of the serious weed rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum L.). The results revealed significant weed suppressive effects of N. sativa residues incorporated into the soil. The lowest seedling emergence rate (38%) was observed in pots treated with 20 g leaf residues. Regarding height, the lowest value (26.7 cm) was found in 20 g root residues. The highest quantity of shoot residues reduced leaf number, tiller number, fresh and dry aerial biomass up to 58, 51, 64 and 59%, respectively. It can be concluded that the effect of incorporation of plant residues depended on the type and amount of residue. N. sativa could be utilized as an allelopathic crop to control weeds and future studies should focus on isolating and identifying allelochemicals in roots, shoots and leaves of this species.

Author Biographies

Ioannis ROUSSIS, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Ilias TRAVLOS, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Ioanna KAKABOUKI, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Spyridoula CHAVALINA, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Varvara KOUNELI, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Agapi Georgia KATSOULIERI, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Panayiota PAPASTYLIANOU, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Dimitrios BILALIS, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Published
2019-06-12