article · African Journal of Nutrition and Applied Research
Hyptis suaveolens leaf extracts produce allelopathic effects that hinder the germination and early seedling establishment of Sorghum bicolor. In laboratory trials testing aqueous extracts against two varieties, SK-5912 and Samsorg-54, the plant extracts exerted a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect. Increased concentrations reduced the germination percentage and significantly slowed the germination rate for both sorghum types. Varietal differences emerged in overall susceptibility, with Samsorg-54 suffering 58.82 percent germination inhibition at peak concentration compared to 40.79 percent in SK-5912. Seedling vigour was also significantly curtailed, falling by roughly half under maximum extract concentration. In contrast, seedling height and leaf counts remained unaffected over the ten-day trial. Extract concentration was the dominant factor driving these reductions, underscoring the risk that weed residues and leachates pose to sorghum establishment in farm settings.
Sorghum is a primary nutritional and economic cereal across sub-Saharan Africa. When common weeds release biochemicals into the soil, poor stand establishment can severely depress final harvest yields. Demonstrating the inhibitory effects of Hyptis suaveolens alerts farmers, agronomists, and extension services to the critical need for clearing this weed from field borders to prevent natural leachates from stunting emerging crops.
This is early-stage laboratory research rather than an applied commercial technology. The findings primarily support the development of farm management guides and agricultural extension protocols for weed eradication around sorghum plots. Looking further ahead, agrochemical researchers could explore the active allelochemicals in Hyptis suaveolens as potential lead compounds for bio-based herbicides, though field validation, compound isolation, and formulation remain necessary steps before any practical use is feasible.
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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the most economically and nutritionally significant cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the allelopathic influence of aqueous leaf extract of Hyptis suaveolens on the germination and early seedling development of two varieties of Sorghum bicolor (SK-5912 and Samsorg-54). The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions using a Completely Randomized Design with different concentrations of H. suaveolens aqueous leaf extract and a distilled-water control. Germination percentage, germination rate, percentage inhibition of germination, seedling vigor, plant height and leaf number were assessed. The results showed that the aqueous leaf extract of H. suaveolens exerted a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on sorghum germination and early seedling establishment. Increasing extract concentration generally reduced germination percentage and significantly reduced germination rate in both varieties, while percentage inhibition increased. Samsorg-54 exhibited greater susceptibility to germination inhibition, recording 58.82% inhibition at the highest extract concentration compared with 40.79% in SK-5912. Seedling vigor was also significantly inhibited, with the highest concentration producing 53.60% and 47.34% inhibition in SK-5912 and Samsorg-54, respectively. However, plant height and leaf number were not significantly affected during the 10-day observation period. Comparative analysis indicated that extract concentration was the major factor influencing germination rate, whereas varietal differences and the interaction between variety and extract concentration were not statistically significant. The findings demonstrate that H. suaveolens possesses appreciable allelopathic potential capable of negatively affecting sorghum germination and early seedling establishment. The study highlights the importance of managing H. suaveolens in and around sorghum-growing environments to minimize the potential adverse effects of its residues and leachates on crop establishment.
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DOI: 10.54117/ze684v50
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