Field appraisal of herbicide potential of sunflower leaf extract against Rumex dentatus

Comparative evaluation of sunflower aqueous extracts and commercially available synthetic herbicides was carried out in field trials. Crude aqueous extract was tested in 80 and 100% concentrations in plots where wheat was grown with Rumex dentatus in a 1: 1 mix. In comparison with the synthetic herbicides (Buctril-Super((R)) and Chwastox((R))) the aqueous extract failed to kill 100% of selected weeds, but the highest tested extract concentration completely overcame weed crop competition by reducing the weed biomass and increasing wheat yield significantly. The trial confirmed the herbicidal potential of sunflower allelochemicals against broad leaf weeds. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.