Exploring the Allelopathic Potential of Plant Extracts for Weed Suppression and Productivity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Weeds infestation poses huge threat to agricultural crop production systems and their management in modern agriculture. It is imperative to reduce yield losses and ensure food security. In order to minimize herbicide application, a study was carried out to evaluate the allelopathic potential of leaves extracts tested on weed suppression in wheat crop under rainfed conditions. Leaves extracts of Moringa oleifera, Parthenium hystorophorus and Cannabis sativa alone and in different combinations along with a control (distilled water) were sprayed to explore the allelopathic potential for weed management in wheat-maize cropping system. Foliar application of moringa + parthenium + cannabis leaves extract was the best treatment to reduce the number of leaves, leaf length and shoot length of all tested weed species. Leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate of weed plants was significantly reduced under exogenously application of leaf extracts. Various phenolic compounds were also detected in parthenium, cannabis and moringa leaf extracts. Maximum phenolic compounds were found in parthenium followed by cannabis and moringa leaf extracts. The combination of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera (MLE) with Parthenium hysterophorus (PLE) and Cannabis sativa (CLE) (water extract at 3%) was significantly impactful to suppress weeds in wheat and achieve higher wheat growth.