Study of allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of roots and seeds of goosefoot, red-root amaranth and field bindweed on germination and growth of lentil seedlings

Given the abundance of red-root amaranth , goosefoot and field bindweed in fields as well as the importance of lentil in terms of its high protein content on one hand and its resistance to drought and the possibility of its cultivation in rain-fed fields on the other hand, the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of the roots and seeds of these weeds on germination and seedling growth of lentil was examined in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete design with three replications in 2011. The experimental treatments included distilled water (control) and aqueous extracts of seeds and roots of these weeds. Results of analysis of variance showed that seed and root aqueous extracts of the weeds significantly decreased germination percentage, germination speed, epicuticle length, seedling height and dry weight, plumule dry weight and seedling dry weight of lentil compared to control. Root aqueous extract of all studied weeds greatly decreased these traits compared to their seed aqueous extracts. Seed aqueous extract of goosefoot had the highest impact on these traits compared to seed extracts of red-root amaranth and bindweed. It can be concluded that the studied weeds disrupted the germination and seedlings of lentil by produced allelopathic chemicals.