Abstract
Phytoinhibitory effect of Prosopis juliflora aqueous extracts on tropical crops were tested under laboratory conditions. Maize, Cotton, and forage grasses (Rodus and Panicum) were used as test plants. Litter fall and under canopy soils were tested for checking allelopathic effects under natural conditions. All the extracts showed significantly negative effects on both germination and seedling growth of test crops. The effect of leaf extract was the highest, followed by litter fall, root extracts and soils respectively. However, at low concentration litter fall and root extracts showed unbalanced root growth stimulation on Zea mays , but hampered shoot growths. Since radicle growth alone cannot increase recruitment, unbalanced growth is eventually harmful to crops. Thus, we conclude that P. juliflora contains water-soluble allelochemicals capable of inhibiting tropical crops and not good for agroforestry. Keywords: Agroforestry, Crops, Cotton, Grasses, Prosopis , Phytoinhibition, Ethiopia
Highlights
Allelopathic compounds are metabolites which released from plants and can be beneficial or detrimental to the growth of receptor plants (Chang-Hung, 1999)
Effects of Different Extracts on Z. mays Results of analysis showed that all extract concentrations of leaves, roots and litter fall on shoot and root growth were significantly affected all the study species (Table 1)
Effects of P. juliflora Under-Canopy Soil on Germination The present study showed that P. juliflora under canopy soil has allelophatic effects on germination of useful plants in the study area
Summary
Allelopathic compounds are metabolites which released from plants and can be beneficial or detrimental to the growth of receptor plants (Chang-Hung, 1999). Allelopathy ecology in natural and agricultural ecosystems has received increasing attention because of the significant reduction of important plants growth and yield reduction of crops. It is an ecological interaction primarily based on the ability of certain plant species to produce secondary chemical compounds, that exert some sort of biological effects on other organisms, many of which are still unknown (Waller, 2003). Allelopathic compounds might play an important role in structuring communities. It would have important roles to play in determining plant diversity, dominance, succession and climax vegetation as well as usefulness in agro-ecosystems. Allelopathy could be a major factor for easy domination of invasive aliens up on introduction for agroforestry purposes
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