Effect of the Residues of the Medicinal Plant Sideritis scardica, on Weed Flora in an Organic Sunflower Crop

Abstract

In the present study, there were studied the effects of plant residues of a widely known aromatic plant (Sideritis scardica Griseb) on weed flora and first growth of a sunflower crop. A field and a pot experiment were conducted in Agricultural University of Athens. In particular, the field experiment was conducted under organic conditions, while in the pot experiment special attention was given to the first early growth of sunflower plants under the effect of plant residues. Our results showed that there was a significant effect of plant residues on weed flora and the producted biomass, especially during the first crucial growth stages of sunflower. Particularly, the incorporation of S. scardica residues resulted to a lower number of different weed species (low richness) and an intense effect on most weed species. The pot experiment revealed that sunflower seed germination was not affected by the incorporation of S. scardica residues. Thus, the activity of Sideritis sp. residues was adequately selective (and desirable), since there was not observed any negative effect on sunflower growth.