Modeling the Use of Medicinal Plant Extracts and Oils for Weed Control: Allelopathic Effects on Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Abusteit, Ezzaldin; ABSY, RAGAB; Mekky, Mohamed; Ahmed, Al-Badr

doi:10.21608/agro.2025.382162.1684

Modeling the Use of Medicinal Plant Extracts and Oils for Weed Control: Allelopathic Effects on Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)"

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

² 7 El-Gammaa St.,Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo university, Egypt

³ Weed Research Central Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

⁴ Weed Central Laboratory, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/agro.2025.382162.1684

Abstract

the experiments were conducted in pots and artificial canals under wire-house conditions, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Egypt, during 2022 - 2024. To study the potential effects of aqueous sweet basil extracts, aromatic oils such as camphor and basil oils, and 6% white vinegar on water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). The results mentioned that using crude sweet basil extract at the concentrations (2- 8%), and camphor oil at rates (400-1600 cm³ fed-1%) significantly reduced key growth traits of water hyacinth. Crude sweet basil extract at rates (1 and 2 l fed-1, basil and camphor oil at concentrations (100 and 200 cm3 fed-1), and white vinegar at rates 6 and 12 l fed-1 were significantly decreased water hyacinth traits, compared to untreated control. Crude extract of sweet basil (2 +2 l fed-1), white vinegar 200 + 200 l fed-1, camphor and basil oils 200 + 200 cm3 fed-1 caused a significant reduction in growth traits of water hyacinth. Nano-emulsion of sweet basil extract (2 + 2 l fed⁻¹), camphor and basil oils (200 + 200 cm³ fed⁻¹), and 99% acetic acid (3 + 3 l fed⁻¹) resulted in over 55% mortality of water hyacinth plants within 21 days. In conclusion, this study recommends the use of nano-emulsions of sweet basil extract (90% SL), camphor and basil oils 10% SL as well as acetic acid 99% as a bio-herbicide for water hyacinth control in small irrigation and drainage canals.

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