Determining Allelopathic Potential of Anethum graveolens to Conrol Chenopodium album

Weeds pose significant challenges in agriculture by reducing crop yields and competing for resources. Traditional herbicide use is often economically inefficient, environmentally harmful, and potentially carcinogenic. This study investigates the allelopathic potential of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) as a natural alternative for controlling Chenopodium album L. (Bathua), a fast-growing weed from the Chenopodiaceae family. Various concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts from A. graveolens seeds and shoots (control, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0%) were tested for their effects on C. album seed germination using a Petri plate assay. The 1.5% aqueous seed extract showed the highest inhibitory effect, reducing germination by 99%, surpassing both the aqueous shootextract(64%) and methanolic extracts. In foliar spray bioassays, aqueous and methanolic extracts (control, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, and 20%) were applied to one-and two-week-old C. album seedlings at seven-day intervals. A 16% concentration reduced fresh plantweight by 51% after the first week and 75% after the second week, indicating progressive phytotoxicity.Pot bioassays revealed that a 2% extract concentration (among control, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3%) significantly decreased shoot weight (−83%), root weight (−74%), and shoot length (−65%). These results highlight the promising allelopathic potential of A. graveolens as a bioherbicide, offering a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative for weed management in agricultural systems.