Formulation, Characterization and Evaluation of Encapsulated Bioherbicide on Echinochloa cruss galli and Phalaris minor

Abstract

Weeds management under organic agriculture demands organic herbicides / bioherbicides.to address this issue an experiment was conducted in Centre of Environment Sciences and Technology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda to study the effects of different concentration and bioassay of encapsulated essential oil extracted (EOs) from Callistemon viminalis on Echinochloa cruss galli and Phalaris minor under lab conditions. Encapsulation efficiency of gum arabic and maltodextrin (GAMD) EOs increased from 26 to 31% for 4 to 8% of EOs concentration. The sizes of all the particles were found in the range of 1-10 μm. The reduced size in case of EOs loaded GAMD-EOs encapsulates may be due to the application of spray drying method used during the preparation. Maximum germination inhibition was observed with P. minor as compared to the E. crus-galli L. The probable reason behind this may be the relatively smooth seed coat, smaller weight to volume ratio of P. minor as compared to the E. crus-galli L. Among all the treatments basal application of encapsulates with 8 % essential oil was found more lethal and result in maximum phyto-toxicity by registering less shoot length and root length and fresh biomass weight. Also, the individual constituents of the EOs can be explored for their use as herbicides and then their encapsulated formulations can be used for scale up in the field conditions.