The allelopathic effect of Achnatherum inebrians at the returning green stage on seed germination of several species

This study determined the allelopathy effects of Achnatherum inebrians growing in Tianshan Mountains at the returning green stage on seed germination of Onobrychis viciaefolia, Medicago sativa, Bromus inermis and A. inebrians by treating seeds with the aqueous extract of different parts of A. inebrians with four concentrations (0.2,0.1,0.05,0.025 g·mL-1). The results showed that the aqueous extract of A. inebrians had inhibitory effects on germination of four species, and the allelopathic sensitivity of four species ranked as: A. inebrians > B. inermis> O. viciaefolia> M. Sativa. Leaf showed a stronger allelopathy effect than root. Germination of M. sativa increased and then decreased as aqueous extract concentration increasing, whereas germination of B. inermis, O. viciaefolia and A. inebrians decreased to some extent at all testing concentration. Thus, M. sativa is recommended to use for restoring degraded grassland infested by A. inebrians.