Allelopathic influence of Urtica dioica L. weed on seed germination and seedling growth of Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Linum usitatissimum (L.)
Allelopathic influence of Urtica dioica L. weed on seed germination and seedling growth of Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Linum usitatissimum (L.)
- Author(s) Nitesh Kumar, Satish Kumar, Kuldeep Rana, Rajeev Bhoria, Anita Kumari and Stuti Rawat
- Year: 2025
- Month: March
- Volume: 64
- Pages: 179-190
We investigated the allelopathic effects of Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) leaf and root aqueous extracts concentrations (1 %, 3 %, 5 % and 7 %) on germination, shoot length and root length of Glycine max (soybean) and Linum usitatissimum (flax). Findings indicated a concentration-dependent inhibitory response in both crops, with notable interspecies differences. Leaf extract results showed that G. max germination was highly sensitive to lower concentrations, exhibiting up to 80 % inhibition at 1 % and 3 %, while L. usitatissimum exhibited greater inhibition of 81.79 % at 7 %. The inhibitory effects on shoot and root lengths were more pronounced at higher concentrations, with L. usitatissimum root length showing drastic inhibition (95.50 %) at 7 %. Root extract at lower concentrations were less inhibitory in G. max but showed severe inhibition at 7 %, while, in L. usitatissimum there was mild stimulation at lower concentrations. These concentration-dependent interactions highlight U. dioica’s potential as a bio-herbicide, selectively impacting different crop species and growth parameters. The study underscores the necessity of understanding allelopathic interactions in sustainable agriculture and suggests future investigations to incorporate positive controls, evaluate physicochemical parameters (osmotic potential and pH) and explore the specific allelochemicals present in U. dioica for eco-friendly weed management strategies.
