NATURAL HERBICIDAL POTENTIAL OF SELECTED PLANTS ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF WEEDS

Use of synthetic herbicides is increasing globally. Application of heavy doses of herbicides is directly / indirectly causing negative impact on crop quality, human health and environment. Allelopathic weeds have wide application prospects in increasing crop production, plant protection and biological control. Current study was conducted to evaluate allelopathic activity of aqueous extracts of Carica papaya, Lantana camara, Rhazya stricta and Pinus roxburghii against selected weeds viz. Phalaris minor, Avena fatua, Chenopodium album, Euphorbia helioscopia and Rumex dentatus on filter paper, soil and agar at 100%, 75%, 50% and 0% concentration. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters to assess allelopathic potential. The STATISTIX 9 software was used to analyse data. Based on results, it was concluded that aqueous extract of R. stricta, P. roxburghii, C. papaya and L. camara possess potential inhibitory effects amongst which L. camara showed most prominant inhibitory effects towrads weeds. The germination and growth inhibition effects were found in order L. camara>P. roxburghii>R. stricta>C. papaya. Detailed field study is recommended to establish allelopathic potential of these species.