ASSESSING PHYTOTOXIC IMPACT OF MELILOTUS INDICUS L. ON THE GERMINATION AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE OF SORGHUM BICOLOR L. UNDER VARIOUS SALINE CONDITIONS

Sorghum is a very important cereal crop over the world and its average production is very low as compared to its potential yield due to the weed infestation and salinity. Therefore, a lab and greenhouse oriented study was carried out to assess the allelopathic impact of yellow sweet clover on the germination and seedling growth of sorghum at different saline conditions. In laboratory experiment, the aqueous extract of four different plant parts of Melilotus indicus (leaves, stem, root and whole plant) at different concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20%). While in greenhouse soil bioassay, three different factors such as residue concentrations (0, 2 and 4%), salt concentrations (0, 4 and 8%) and decomposition period (2 and 4 weeks) were studied with completely randomized design with factorial arrangement having five replicates in lab experiment. Results indicated maximum inhibitory effect on seed germination was recoded when 20% extract of M. indicus was applied and maximum seedling growth was noted at control (distilled water). In the case of M. indicus parts, highest inhibition was noted when whole plant part water extract was applied at 20% concentration. In second greenhouse experiment, the results showed that M. indicus plant materials mixed with the soil and left for the period of two weeks for the fully decomposition caused non-significant impact on the seed germination of sorghum. 19.72%, 5.15% and 4.23% increase in germination, root growth and shoot length was noticed with the M. indicus root extract as compared to the whole plant extract. However, saline conditions showed inhibitory effect on germination when its level was increased. Germination and seedling emergence of sorghum significantly affected by the allelopathic potential of M. indicus and it was declined by the gradually increased of salt contractions in the soil.