The Effect of Drought Stress on Flavonoid and Phenolic Content in Super 1 Sorghum Extract

Allelopathic-based bioherbicides sourced from drought-stressed sorghum plants help advance organic farming. This study aimed to assess the levels of flavonoids and phenols in extracts from Super 1 sorghum varieties exposed to drought stress. Preparation and analysis of the extracts occurred at the Integrated Laboratory of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bengkulu University, from July to August 2025. For extraction, a randomized block design with a single factor was used in a greenhouse. In this experiment, one Super 1 sorghum variety was subjected to water stress through varying irrigation schedules: daily, every four days, every five days, and every six days. Plants were harvested at 45 days, sun-dried, then oven-dried at 70°C for 48 hours. Dried cobs were ground into a fine powder and analyzed for flavonoid and phenol levels. Results showed that irrigation every 5 days yielded extracts with the highest flavonoid level (1045 µg/g). Meanwhile, the lowest flavonoid levels were recorded with irrigation every 6 days and daily, giving 320 µg/g and 330 µg/g, respectively. Regarding phenol content, the highest amount was found in extracts watered every 6 days (3310 µg/g), and the lowest amount was observed with daily irrigation, at 1150 µg/g