Potential allelopathic interference of aqueous extracts of winter weeds on yield and yield attributing characters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Allelopathy is an important mechanism of plant competition by producing phytotoxins to the plant environment to decline other plant growth and development. In this study, allelopathic potential of weed aqueous extracts (10% concentration) of Medicago denticulata, Chenopodium album and Melilotus indica and their combinations was evaluated on yield and yield attributing characters of wheat by control of dominant weed of wheat, Phalaris minor. Under application of different weed aqueous extracts, thousand grain weight and spike length of wheat gave non-significant results. However, the other yield attributing characters at harvest, viz., number of spikes per square metre, number of spikelets per spike and number of grains per spike were found highest under Medicago denticulata (10%) + Melilotus indica (10%) + Chenopodium album (10%) which was at par with Melilotus indica (10%) + Chenopodium album (10%). Grain yield, straw yield and biological yield differed significantly owing to application of various allelochemicals as weed aqueous extracts. Combined application of Medicago denticulata (10%) + Melilotus indica (10%) + Chenopodium album (10%) was found to produce higher grain yield, straw yield and biological yield, which was at par with Melilotus indica (10%) + Chenopodium album (10%). All the plots in which weed aqueous extracts was applied produced significantly higher biological yield than weedy check (control). This indicated that effective weed control reduced competition between crops and weeds which resulted in higher yield and proved the efficiency of weed aqueous extracts in controlling Phalaris minor.