The Allelopathic Potential of some Lower Plants on Growth, and Yield of Wheat Plants

Abstract

A completely randomized design pot experiment was executed in the College of Science, Salahaddin University glass house to investigate the allelopathic potentiality of dried shoot parts of two algae two (Chara sp. and Cladophora glomerata) and aquatic plant species (Ceratophyllum desmersum) when incorporated in different concentrations [0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and2.0 %] to the pot’s soil on germination and growth of hard Wheat (Triticum durum). Results showed the stimulating effect of both algae species Chara sp. and Cladophora Sp. on wheat plant’s height (71.44 and 81.66 cm), shoot dry weight to (4.46 and 9.00 g), spike weight (2.05 and 3.06 g), spike length (16.16 and16.80 cm), number of grains per spike (26.22 and 36.77 grain. Spike −1), yield per plant (4.78 and 10.30 g. plant−1), thousand grains weight 59.40 and 64.90 g) respectively comparing to control treatmenst. The aquatic plant species dried shoot parts negatively affected the wheat plants’ flag leaf length and width, shoot dry weight, and yield per plant. The allelopathic index indicated the stimulatory effect when the index was higher than unity 2.30 and 2.03 for both algae species. The inhibiting effect when the index value was lower than unity 0.52 for the aquatic plant.