Allelopathic proclivities of Ficus auriculata Lour. and Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. On germination and growth of agricultural crops.
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Date
2017-06, 2017-06
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College of Forestry, Ranichauri campus, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
College of Forestry, Ranichauri campus, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
College of Forestry, Ranichauri campus, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
Abstract
The study entitled “Allelopathic proclivities of Ficus auriculata Lour. and Ficus semicordata
Buch.-Ham. on germination and growth of agricultural crops” was undertaken in the Department of
Forestry, College of Forestry (V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry)
Ranichaury, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, during September, 2016 to April, 2017. The experiment was
undertaken to evaluate the proclivities of two species of Ficus (Ficus auriculata and Ficus
semicordata) on germination and growth performance of three varieties of small millets (Eleusine
coracana, Echinochloa frumentacea and Amaranthus caudatus) and one leguminous crop (Vigna
umbellata). The result of the study showed that the maximum average seed germination per cent varied
to great extent irrespective of different leaf and bark extracts of all two species of Ficus. A. caudatus
and V. umbellata were more resistant to leaves and bark extract than E. frumentacea and E. coracana.
The result indicated that, allelopathic influences are species specific and extracts can have different
influences on seed germination, root and shoot growth of test crops. Both leaf and bark extract of
species of Ficus exhibited maximum germination per cent at lower concentrations while, minimum
germination per cent were found in higher concentrations. Leaf and bark extracts of F. auriculata were
found depressive for germination and growth all the test crops. The increase in extract concentration
exhibited higher inhibitory effect while, the lesser concentration generally stimulated growth of A.
caudatus and V. umbellata. This study also revealed that, within each concentration (irrespective of
the tree species and the parts taken) the 72hr extract inhibited more germination percent and plant
growth as compared to the 48hr and 24hr extracts. From the study, it can be concluded that these tree
species have allelopathic potential and contain water-soluble substances, their effect might be
dependent on their concentration in water. They have inhibitory effects at higher concentration but
lesser concentration can have stimulatory effects. The tolerance of the crops was in the order of A.
caudatus > V. umbellata >E. frumentacea >E. coracana by considering in the mean germination per
cent with respect the per cent decrease over control. The toxicity of the species (irrespective of plant
parts and concentrations) of Ficus was in the order of F. auriculata> F. semicordata on the test crops.