Study of the Effect of Pomegranate Peel Aqueous Extract on Germination and Growth of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pomegranate peel aqueous extract as a natural and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, and to determine its effect as a biostimulant on the germination indicators and early growth rates of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The experiment involved irrigating the plants with different concentrations of pomegranate peel aqueous extract (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%) with three replicates per treatment, using distilled water (0%) as a control treatment. Upon terminating the experiment after 21 days, morphological measurements were recorded, including length, fresh and dry weights of both shoot and root systems, and leaf area of the barley plant. The obtained results indicated that using the extract had a remarkably positive effect on the morphological measurements, particularly at the 6% concentration, which showed an optimal response in supporting growth, proving its success as a safe and effective bio-alternative in sustainable agriculture. Although the 9% concentration outperformed the control, it recorded a decline in vital indicators compared to the 6% concentration, indicating an inhibitory effect. This may be attributed to the high concentration of phenolic compounds, which could lead to partial inhibition of some nutrient absorption or adversely affect root membrane permeability. Based on these results, it is recommended to replace chemical fertilizers with this extract to mitigate environmental pollution, while adhering to the optimal concentration (6%) and avoiding the (9%) concentration to prevent adverse inhibitory effects. Future research should transition to field conditions and evaluate its efficacy on other strategic crops.