Screening of Effective Leaf Extracts for Weed Management in Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in January 2022 by seven different leaf extracts as an allelopathical compound in order to choose the best alternative to chemical herbicides by non-chemical weed management approach in little millet owing to the great surge of organic farming in millet production nowadays. Screening trail has been conducted to observe the effect of leaf extracts (Tamarind,Casuarina,Castor,Papaya, Teak,Pine,Nerium) with 20 & 30% concentration on weed control. This experiment laid out in a randomized block design and was replicated twice with 15 different treatments. The findings of this investigation demonstrated that the pre emergence (3 DAS) application of Tamarind leaf extract (30%), Casuarina leaf extract (30%). Castor leaf extract (30%). Papaya leaf extract (30%). Teak leaf extract (30%). Pine leaf extract (30%) and Nerium leaf extract (30%) pronounced the lowest weed density and highest weed control efficiency among fifteen treatments. Based on the results of the experiment, it was concluded that pre emergence application of any different leaf extract among the fifteen treatments, Tamarind, Casuarina, Castor, Papaya, Teak, Pine, and Nerium leaf extracts with 30% concentration had found the allelopathic potential to reduce the weed density and recorded high weed control efficiency with no phytotoxicity on the little millet.