The Position of Allelopathy in Sustainable Agriculture

The escalating global population, coupled with the adverse environmental impacts of conventional farming-such as soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and herbicide resistance-necessitates a paradigm shift toward sustainable agricultural models. Modern agroecosystems require innovative, ecologically sound strategies to ensure long-term productivity and food security without compromising ecosystem health. Among these strategies, allelopathy emerges as a critical biochemical mechanism for natural weed suppression and the reduction of synthetic chemical dependency. This review evaluates the role of allelopathy within the framework of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) and sustainable intensification. It examines how allelochemicals -released through root exudation, leaching, and volatilization-can be harnessed through practical applications such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and the development of bioherbicides. While bio-based alternatives offer high specificity and low environmental persistence, their integration into large-scale systems requires a deeper understanding of molecular interactions and ecological dynamics. This paper concludes that leveraging allelopathic potential is essential not only for mitigating the crisis of herbicide resistance but also for fostering resilient, bio-diverse, and sustainable agricultural landscapes for future generations.