Allelopathic Potential of L. Leaf Extracts and Soils Invaded by It on the Growth Performance of L.

is a noxious invasive plant that invades agricultural and natural ecosystems. In the current study, phytotoxicity of hexane and ethanolic leaf extracts of in different concentrations and soils invaded by it on were investigated under laboratory conditions. Soil toxicity was evaluated by comparing the growth of on soils sampled from -invaded and -free sites. Results showed that extract concentrations and solvent type and their interaction significantly reduced percent seed germination and seedling growth. Compared to control (distilled water), both hexane and ethanol extracts at 5% w/v concentration significantly reduced percent germination and early seedling growth and completely inhibited seed germination at 10% w/v of hexane leaf extract, suggesting that hexane extract has a greater inhibitory effect than ethanolic extract in all the parameters measured. However, growth performance and seed yield of grown on soil invaded by did not significantly vary from those grown on soils sampled from noninvaded sites. The results of this study generally showed that though leaf extracts have a direct negative allelopathic effect on , soils invaded by have no toxic materials in the soil to directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of . Further field studies on allelopathic effects of on are recommended.