TR
EN
Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth
Abstract
This study investigates the allelopathic effects of distilled water, ethanol, and methanol extracts obtained from the seeds and plant parts of Sorghum bicolor L. and Medicago sativa L. on the germination and early seedling development of wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant materials were sourced from national agricultural research institutes and extracted using standardized protocols. Experiments were conducted under controlled growth chamber conditions over 15 days. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified spectrophotometrically, revealing that methanol extracts, particularly those from sorghum seeds, had the highest levels (3672.7 ppm GAE and 2585.7 ppm CE, respectively). Results showed that 5% and 10% ethanol extracts of both plant species, as well as the 10% methanol extracts of sorghum and alfalfa, significantly inhibited germination and reduced seedling growth. Sorghum seed methanol extract and alfalfa plant material methanol extract demonstrated the strongest allelopathic effects, reducing root and shoot length and biomass accumulation. In contrast, lower concentration water extracts occasionally showed neutral or even stimulatory effects. These findings highlight the allelopathic potential of sorghum and alfalfa, particularly when extracted with methanol, and support their possible use as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides in integrated weed management systems.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Sakarya University of Applied Sciences Scientific Research Projects Coordination
Ethical Statement
This study did not involve human participants or animals; therefore, ethical approval was not required.
Thanks
We would like to thank Sakarya University of Applied Sciences Scientific Research Projects Coordination for supporting this study with project number 126-2023.
References
- Abdul-Rahman AA and Habib SA (1989). Allelopathic effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on bladygrass (Imperata cylindrica). Journal of Chemical Ecology,15: 2289-2300.
- Açıkgöz E (2001). Forage crops (Revised 3rd Edition). Uludağ University Strengthening Foundation Publication No: 182, Vipaş A. Ş. Publication No: 58, Istanbul, 584 p.
- Alam S M, Ansari SA and Khan MA (2001). Influence of leaf extract of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) on germination and seedling growth of wheat. Wheat Information Service, 92: 17-19.
- Avcıoğlu R, Geren H, Tamkoç A and Karadağ Y (2009). Forage crops, forage legumes. Volume II.pp. 290-316, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Publications, p: 277-545.
- Baltepe Ş and Mert HH (1972). A methodological study on the chromatographic separation and biological determination of Indole-3-Acetic Acid, Gibberellic Acid and Abscisic Acid, Ege University Faculty of Science Scientific Reports Series, No:147, Bornova-İZMİR.
- Berg WK, Cunningham SM, Brouder SM, Joern BC, Johnson KD, Santini JB and Volence JJ (2007). The long term impact of phosphorus and potassium fertilization on alfalfa yield and yield components. Crop Science Journal, 47: 2198-2209.
- Cheema ZA, Rakha A and Khaliq A (2000). Use of sorgaab and sorghum mulch for weed management in mungbean. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 37: 140-144.
- Cheema ZA, Iqbal M and Ahmad R (2002). Response of wheat varieties and some rabi weeds to allelopathic effects of sorghum water extract. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 4: 52-55.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Agricultural Engineering (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
December 30, 2025
Submission Date
November 1, 2025
Acceptance Date
December 8, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 6 Number: 2
APA
Öten, M., & Tokat, S. (2025). Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 6(2), 118-133. https://doi.org/10.46592/turkager.1815500
AMA
1.Öten M, Tokat S. Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth. TURKAGER. 2025;6(2):118-133. doi:10.46592/turkager.1815500
Chicago
Öten, Mehmet, and Semih Tokat. 2025. “Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth”. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 6 (2): 118-33. https://doi.org/10.46592/turkager.1815500.
EndNote
Öten M, Tokat S (December 1, 2025) Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 6 2 118–133.
IEEE
[1]M. Öten and S. Tokat, “Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth”, TURKAGER, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 118–133, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46592/turkager.1815500.
ISNAD
Öten, Mehmet - Tokat, Semih. “Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth”. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 6/2 (December 1, 2025): 118-133. https://doi.org/10.46592/turkager.1815500.
JAMA
1.Öten M, Tokat S. Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth. TURKAGER. 2025;6:118–133.
MLA
Öten, Mehmet, and Semih Tokat. “Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth”. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, vol. 6, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 118-33, doi:10.46592/turkager.1815500.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Öten, Semih Tokat. Evaluating the Allelopathic Potential of Sorghum and Alfalfa Extracts on Wheat and Wild Oat Germination and Growth. TURKAGER. 2025 Dec. 1;6(2):118-33. doi:10.46592/turkager.1815500