Allelopathic potential of Ficus auriculata and Ficus semicordata on growth of four traditional food crops of Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of Ficus auriculata Lour. and Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.on growth and dry matter production of Eleusine coracana L. , Echinochloa frumentacea L. , Amaranthus caudatus L. and Vigna umbellata Thunb. These two Ficus tree species grow naturally in the traditional agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya and the evaluation of allelopathic potential of these promising trees is required to monitor sustainable and efficient production of food crops under the canopy of both tree species to small and marginal farmers. On an average, the leaves and bark extracts of both analysed tree species had stimulated the seedling growth of A. caudatus (+20.48 & +16.79%) and V. umbellata (+0.10 & +4.64%) and for E. frumentacea (−28.31 & −50.0%) and E. coracana (−8.19 & −19.65%) reduction of seedling growth was observed. The maximum reduction in biomass was recorded in E. frumentacea (−158.67%) and least reduction was recorded in V. umbellata (−27.12%) under the leaves and bark extracts . The allelopathic effects of both extracts were resulted in decreased with increasing the soaking time of extracts, i.e. 24hrs >48hrs > 72hrs. The results also indicated that the allelopathic effects are species specific and extracts can have different influences on seedling growth of studied test crops. The tolerance of the test crops was in the order of A. caudatus > V. umbellata > E. frumentacea > E. coracana, while the toxicity of tree species was in the order of F. auriculata > F. semicordata . The study recommends that the A. caudatus and V. umbellata should be grown under canopy of both species and E. frumentacea and E. coracana could be grown in open field condition. Both Ficus species are economically important and are suitable for agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya for sustainable agriculture of the region. • Ficus semicordata and Ficus auriculata are the agroforestry trees of Garhwal Himalaya. • E.coracana , E.frumentacea, A.caudatus and V.umbellata are the agricultural crops grown under agroforestry systems. • Leaves and bark extracts of F.auriculata and F.semicordata adversely affect the growth of all the target crops. • F.auriculata reduced the growth and dry weight with increasing the concentrations of extracts. • F.semicordata stimulated the seedling growth in lower concentrations and inhibited at higher concentrations.