Allelopatik Allelopathic Effects of Spurge (Euphorbia Macroclada Boiss.) and Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Plant Extracts on Germination of Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium Album L.) Seeds

Abstract

There are many weed species that negatively affect yield and quality in agricultural areas. Chemical control is the most common method used in weed management. However, the negative effects of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment reveal the importance of environmentally friendly control methods. In this context, the negative effects of some plant extracts on weed development offer promising results that can be an alternative to chemical pesticides. This study investigated the allelopathic effects of plant extracts obtained from spurge (Euphorbia macroclada Boiss.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in various solvents (water and ethanol) and concentrations on the seed germination of lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album L.), a plant responsible for significant yield losses in agricultural fields. The research was conducted in 2024 at the Herbology Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Van Y & uuml;z & uuml;nc & uuml; Y & imath;l University. The prepared ethanol and water extracts at concentrations of 1%, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32% were applied to lamb's quarters seeds put in Petri dishes of 9 cm diameter. The control group was treated with only pure water. The experiments were conducted with five replications, each containing 50 seeds. Statistically significant changes in seed germination were found between the treatments. The study showed that germination decreased when the concentrations of ethanol and water extracts obtained from spurge and alfalfa increased. Specifically, the ethanol extracts from spurge at concentrations of 8%, 16%, and 32%, and the from alfalfa at concentrations of 16% and 32% completely inhibited seed germination. In addition, no seed germination was observed with the water extracts from spurge and alfalfa at a concentration of 32%. This study is considered to be important in terms of using spurge and alfalfa extracts as an alternative method to control this weed, which affects yield and quality in agricultural areas by preventing the germination of lamb's quarters.