Effect of chemical compound of yarrow (Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch) essential oil on germination characteristics of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv) and common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.)

In order to investigate the composition and herbicidal activity of yarrow essential oil on barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (l.) beauv) and common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), two factorial experiments were conducted in a complete randomized design with four replications at Islamic Azad University in 1399. The first factor was the type of essential oil at two levels (ordinary and nano) and the second factor was the concentration at six levels (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 µlL-1). The results of essential oil analysis led to the identification of 49 compounds. Among these compounds, camphor (21.1%), 1,8-cineole (19.3%), myrtenol (8.4%), carvacrol (8.3%) and borneol (6.1%) are the main compounds in essential oil. Scanning Electron Microscopy Images showed the particles were 1 and 100 nm in size. There was no significant difference between the concentrations of 100 µlL-1 of the two types of essential oils in germination percentage of barnyard grass. However, with increasing the concentration, this difference became significant, so that at a concentration of 400 µlL-1, the germination percentage of barnyard grass treated with ordinary and nano essential oils reached 30.12 and 10.02%, respectively. Germination completely inhibited with nano essential oil at 1000 at µlL-1 concentration in barnyard seeds. At a concentration of 400 µlL-1 of nano and ordinary essential oils, common lambsquarter germinated at 36.12 and 13.02 percent and nano essential oil at a concentration of 800 µlL-1 completely prevented germination. Common lambsquarter was more sensitive to essential oil of yarrow in comparison with barnyard grass.