Allelopathic potential of Parthenium hysterophorus on wheat, Triticum aestivum. rice, Oryza sativa, soybean, Glycine max and pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan

Abstract

Allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus were studied on seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum, Oryza sativa, Glycine max and Cajanus cajan. The shade dried leaves of Parthenium hysterophorus were soaked in distilled water for 24 hours at room temperature to obtain aqueous extract and sterilized seeds were treated with 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% concentration of P. hysterophorus leaves aqueous extract. The germinated seeds were counted every day to observe mean germination time. It has been found that significant time is taken to germinate with increasing concentration. It has been also observed that germination percentage, root length, shoot length and seedling vigour value were reduced at >2% as compared to control. The 10 % aqueous extract showed the maximum inhibitory effect on seedling growth. In the present investigation, the leaves aqueous extract of P. hysterophorus had strong inhibiting effects on seed germination and seedling growth. It is necessary to keep this weed under check at the emerging stage at agro crop field so that crop growth constraint may be avoided