Allelopathy in agroforestry: A review

Abstract

Woody perennials release some phytochemicals into the soil which adversely affect the germination and yield of understorey crops. Allelopathic interactions in tree crop associations in agroforestry greatly influence the crop production. When the trees and crops grown together they interact with each other either inhibiting or stimulating their growth or yield through direct or indirect allelopathic interaction. The consequent effects include inhibited or retarded germination rate, reduced roots or radical and shoot or coleoptiles extension, lack of root hairs and swelling or necrosis of root. Thus. it plays an irnportant role in an agroforestry system and it is clear that a better understanding of allelopathy can help in developing more sustainable agroforestry system.