Control of with , , , and Essential Oils.

In the search of sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for weed control, there is increasing interest in essential oils (EOs) as an approach to reduce synthetic herbicide use. The phytotoxicity of , , and EOs against the noxious weed were evaluated in pre- and post-emergence assays in greenhouse conditions. The EOs were applied at 2, 4, and 8 µL/mL, with Fitoil used as emulsifier. In post-emergence, two ways of application were tested, irrigation and spraying. Several germination parameters (germination %, mean germination time, and synchrony of the germination process) were evaluated in pre-emergence tests, and the phytotoxicity level was assessed in post-emergence. In pre-emergence, all EOs significantly reduced seed germination as compared to the controls, ranking: . The effectiveness of all EOs varied with the tested dose, always following the rank 2 μL < 4 μL < 8 μL, with EO showing full effectiveness even at the lowest dose. In post-emergence, was the most effective EO, inducing a rather complete inhibition of plantlet growth at the highest two doses. These EOs demonstrated to have good potential for the formulation of natural herbicides.