Influence on germination and growth of agriculture crops following allelopathic effect of three Quercus species
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Date
2016-06
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College of Forestry, Ranichauri campus, V.C.S.G Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
Abstract
The present investigation 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 August 2015 to June, 2016. The experiment was undertaken to evaluate the influence of three species of (Quercus leucotricophora, Q. floribunda and Q. serrata) Quercus on germination and growth performance of three varieties of small millets (Echinochloa frumentacea, Eleusine coracana and Amaranthus caudatus) and one cereal crop (Triticum aestivum). The investigation revealed the considerable effect of three species of Quercus on germination and radical-plumule growth as well as dry weight of all the test crops. The result of the study showed that germination responses in terms of different extracts of leaf and bark of all three species of Quercus showed the maximum average seed germination per cent varied to great extent irrespective of different leaf and bark extracts. Eluesine coracana and Amaranthus caudatus were more resistant to leaves and bark extract than Triticum aestivum and Echinochloa frumentacea. 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 Quercus exhibited maximum germination per cent at lower concentrations while, minimum germination per cent were found in higher concentrations. Leaf and bark extracts of Quercus serrata were found depressive for all the test crops, with respect to germination and radical-plumule growth as well as dry weight. The increase in extract concentration exhibited higher inhibitory effect while, the lesser concentration generally stimulated growth of Eleusine coracana and Amaratnthus caudatus. 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 at lesser concentration have stimulatory effects. The tolerance of the crops was in the order of Triticum aestivum >Echinocloa frumentacea >Amaranthus caudatus >Elusine coracana by considering in the mean germination per cent with respect the per cent decrease over control. The toxicity of the spp. (irrespective of plant parts and concentrations) of Quercus was in the order of Q. leucotrichophora> Q. floribunda> Q. serrata in Echinochloa frumentacea, Elusine coracana and Amaranthus caudatus whereas, Q. leucotrichophora> Q. serrata> Q. floribunda was in Triticum aestivum.