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Interference potential of Sorghum halepense on soil and plant seedling growth

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Abstract

Background and aims

Invasive weeds may exert negative impact on other plant species and soil processes. The observed negative impact of an invasive weed species may be driven by allelopathy or nutrient availability.

Methodology

Sorghum halepense is one of the worst invasive weeds in crop fields. We quantified the species richness in the S. halepense-invaded communities and communities not yet invaded by the weed. Sorghum soil and no-sorghum soil were analysed for total phenolics, microbial activity, available nitrogen (N) and organic carbon. Manipulative experiments were carried out to understand the interference potential of S. halepense. Soil was amended with root or shoot leachate of S. halepense, and its impact on plant growth and soil properties was studied.

Results

Out of four S. halepense-sites, lower plant species richness was observed in one site compared to uninvaded sites. S. halepense-invaded soil had higher levels of total phenolics and lower levels of available N. Higher inhibition in the root growth of Brassica juncea or Bidens pilosa was observed in root leachate-amended soil than shoot leachate-amended soil. Shoot leachate-amended soil had higher levels of total phenolics and available N than root leachate-amended soils. Significant reduction in the available N was observed in soil amended with root leachate. Significant decline in the total phenolics over a period of time was observed in soil amended with root leachate or shoot leachate of S. halepense. Higher CO2 release was observed 24 h after amending soil with root leachate or shoot leachate of S. halepense.

Conclusions

Sorghum halepense interference potential in its soil is likely due to lower levels of available N. Greater reduction in root dry weight of assay species in root leachate amended soil compared to shoot leachate amended soil was likely due to lower levels of available N in root leachate-amended soil. Relative interference potential of both root and shoot leachates or extracts should be evaluated in allelopathy bioassays and further experiments should be designed to distinguish the role of allelochemicals and nutrient availability in plant growth inhibition.

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Acknowledgement

Inderjit thanks Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for financial support. Sudipto Majumdar and Urvashi Sanwal thank CSIR for providing research fellowships. We thank Jeff Weidenhamer, Leslie Weston and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sudipto Majumdar, Urvashi Sanwal &  Inderjit

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  1. Sudipto Majumdar
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  2. Urvashi Sanwal
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  3. Inderjit
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Correspondence to Inderjit.

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Responsible Editor: Leslie A. Weston.

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Majumdar, S., Sanwal, U. & Inderjit Interference potential of Sorghum halepense on soil and plant seedling growth. Plant Soil 418, 219–230 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3278-x

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