Assessment of allopathic potential of Capparis spinosa L. on weeds control under laboratory and greenhouse conditions

The herbicidal properties of some plants species can be exploited successfully as a tool to reduce the herbicide application. Wild plant species, including medicinal herbs, usually contain much higher levels of chemicals compounds than the cultivated crops; therefore it can be used to control the weed species. The current study was conducted inorder to evaluate the herbicidal properties of Capparis spinosa on Malva parviflora in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment was used with three replications. Evaluated factors including used parts of plant (foliage, root) as well as plant material amount (four concentrations of aqueous extract; 0, 0.6, 0.9, 1.25 g dry weight per 100 milliliter water; in laboratory condition and four amount of plant powder; 0¡ 4¡ 8¡ 12 g dry weight per 1000 g soil; in greenhouse condition). The results indicated that, in laboratory condition, with increasing concentration of Capparis spinosa aqueous extract from 0 to 12%, mean time to germination of M. paryiflora increased progressively from 1 to 1.4 and 2.2 days, respectively. At 1.25% aqueous extract concentration, the germination percentage, root and soot length as well as root and shoot dry weight diminished 87, 90, 91, 83 and 73%, respectively, when compared to the control. Also in greenhouse condition, the effects of Capparis spinosa powder added to the soil on measured parameter were significant. In the soil treated with 12g powder, seedling length of Malva parviflora in the second week of growth reduced about 47% when compared to the control. Overall, the results revealed the possibility use of herbicidal properties of Capparis spinosa for biological weed control and therefore reduce application of chemical herbicides.