Effects of Artemisia Argyi Extracts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Six Grasses

To study the allelopathic effect of the extract of Artemisia argyi on herbage, and the effect of three kinds of concentration treaments like T 1（6.25 mg/mL）,T 2（12.5 mg/mL） and T 3（25 mg/mL） extracts used as stock solution on seed germination and seedling growth of six forage grasses, including Lolium multiflorum, Dactylis glomerata, Echinochloa crusgalli, Setaria sphacelata, Medicago sativa and Festuca arundinacea were studied. The results showed that forage species, concentration and their interaction had significant effects on germination index, viability index, inhibition rate and allelopathy index（except concentration on seedling allelopathy index）（p＜0.05）. The allelopathy index of germination rate and young root of T 3 were significantly higher than those of T 1 and T 2（p＜0.05）. Forage species and concentration and their interaction had significant effects on the comprehensive effect（p＜0.001）. With the concentration of Artemisia argyi extract increasing from T 1 to T 3, the comprehensive effect was significantly enhanced（p＜0.05）. The extract of Artemisia argyi had the strongest inhibitory effect on Dactylis glomerata. T 3 concentration had the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination and growth of herbage seeds.