Allelopathic potancial of Ziziphora clinopodioides on germination indices and initial growth of chickpea and soybean

To determine the allelopathic potential of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. on seed germination and seedling growth of chickpea and soybean in laboratory condition, an experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications and six treatments was carried out including distilled water as control, aqueous extract concentrations of Z. clinopodioides by 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15% (w/v) at Complex Higher Education of Shirvan during 2014. Germination percentage and rate, seedling shoot and root length, dry weight of chickpea and soybean significantly affected by aqueous extract concentrations of Z. clinopodioides in 5% probability levels. Germination percentage and rate of chickpea and soybean significantly decreased by increasing extract concentration. The most inhibitive effect was observed in 15%, that germination percentage of chickpea and soybean decreased by 17.5 and 23.5%, respectively compared to control. Z. clinopodioides extract had more inhibitive on germination rate than germination percentage. Z. clinopodioides aqueous extract significantly delayed the germination of chickpea and soybean. With increasing concentration of aqueous extract of shoot and root inhibition was more impressed than chickpea and soybean. Shoot and root dry weight of soybean showed more reduction than seedling dry weight of chickpea. However, shoot and root dry weight of soybean seedling decreased by 82.2 and 67% respectively, compared to control, while shoot and root dry weight of chickpea seedling decreased by 60 and 53.2%, respectively. According to the inhibitory effect of Z. clinopodioiedes, on growth of chickpea and soybean in farms growing perennial herbs such as Z. clinopodioiedes is not recommended.