Allelopathic effect of Celtis australis on germination and growth parameters of some important food crops of the Garhwal Himalayas

Abstract

Present study was conducted to assess the allelopathic effect of leaf and bark aqueous extracts of Celtis australis on Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare, Brassica rapa, Lens culinaris and Vigna umbellate under In-vitro condition. Different leaf and bark aqueous extracts 5%, 10%, and 15% were used to irrigate the seeds of test crops. The results revealed that the concentration dependent significant (p=0.05) inhibitory effect of aqueous leaf and bark extracts on germination, root and shoot length of all the test crops. Among all the test crops Triticum aestivum was found most sensitive where the germination percentage was reduced down to 46.0% by the leaf extract (15%) as compared to control (82.3%), while the maximum inhibition in the root length of Lens culinaris (0.5 cm) by 10% leaf extract was observed as compare to control (8.2 cm). In shoot length maximum inhibitory effect was observed in Hordeum vulgare (3.5 cm) as compared to control (13.3 cm). Similarly, the bark extract showed the maximum inhibition in germination percentage of Lens culinaris (41.6%) at 15% concentration as compare to control (70.0%) while the maximum inhibition for the root length was recorded in Triticum aestivum (1.9 cm) at 15% concentration as compare to control (17.3 cm). In shoot length maximum inhibition was observed for Triticum aestivum (1.3 cm) at 10% extract level as compare to control (13.4 cm), while Vigna umbellate (5.5 cm) at 15% concentration showed stimulatory effect as compare to control (3.4 cm) exceptionally. Finally, it is concluded that Vigna umbellate exhibited the maximum tolerance against leaf and bark aqueous and might be a better option for intercropping with C. australis. However, the allelopathic effect on the other test crops can be minimized by removing the fallen leaves from the agricultural fields.