ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF WEEDS ON WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) GERMINATION AND GROWTH

Abstract

Three weed species viz., Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav., Euphorbia hirta L., and Fumaria indica (Haussk.) Pugsley were used in the form of powder with different ratios/quantity as treatments of 10, 25, 50 and 100g and mixed with uniform amount of soil (500g). Wheat seeds were grown and it was observed that 10 and 25g powder/500g soil of Asphodelus tenuifolius considerably increased the germination and rate of germination of wheat, while the powder of other two species reduced this phenomenon in the test species at the concentration of 25, 50 and 100g/500g soil. All the weeds powder treatments showed remarkable varied effects on the plant height and their weights (fresh, dry shoot and root weight) of the test plant. The powder of Fumaria indica and Asphodelus tenuifolius significantly reduced, while the Euphorbia hirta showed non-significant effects on the wheat plant height. Soil containing Euphorbia hirta powder showed the significant reduction in the fresh and dry shoot weight of wheat plant.