Allelopathic effects of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) on germination and development of some weed species

Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a legume forage crop which is widely grown both in our country and the world. Besides, it is one of the most preferred plants as living mulch crop for weed control. It has important advantages in terms of weed competition because of fast growing, very good covering of the soil surface and getting the opportunistic manner of the media sources. It is considered that another feature of common vetch to control weeds is having allelopathic potential. In this context, the effects of V. sativa on seed germination and growth of some problematic weed species in our country were investigated. Therefore, water-extracts and sap of V. sativa leaves in different concentrations were applied on seeds of 8 different weeds and 2 different test plants species. In the experiment, sap of common vetch at the rate of 25%, 50% and 100% and water-extracts that were kept waiting in water at 1, 3 and 7 days were applied. Experiment was set up with four replicates and replicated two times. On the other hand, pot experiments were set up to determine the effects of common vetch root secretion on weed growth. The secretion of vetch root was collected via an assembly is named ladder system and applied at equal amount on four different weed species at 2-4 leaf stages. Pot trials were carried out with 4 replicates for the first year and 6 replicates for the second years. As a result, water-extracts and sap of V. sativa leaves inhibited seed germination of the most weed species which used in the experiment. But, root exudates of vetch have not suppressive effects on weed growth. At the end of the study, it is concluded that, common vetch has allelopathic potential on seed germination and through this way it suppresses weeds. In this context, common vetch could be used to reduce weed populations both as cover crop and as rotation plant.