Beneficial Allelopathic Effect of Syzygiuym cumini Litterfall Biomass on Arable Crops

Abstract

Field as well as laboratory experiments were conducted during 1994-95 and 1995-96 on a sandy loam soil at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of Jamun litter biomass with and without N fertilizer on the germination, growth and productivity of some graminaceous and leguminous grain as well as forage plants. The results indicated that combination of 75% N through urea fertilizer + 25% N through tree litter biomass proved more beneficial in terms of final yield i.e. 46.7 Uha in 1994-95 and 49.3 Uha in 1995-96, which was significantly higher by 3 and 6% over sole litter biomass, 6 and 12% over sole urea fertilizer and 60 and 100% higher over without N application, respectively in the years 1994-95 and 1995-96. The higher concentration of extracts i.e. 5, 7.5 and 10 % significantly inhibited the germination of wheat by 32,47 and 112%, respectively in comparison to pure water. The lower concentration (2.5%) of litter increased the germination by 9% in rice and soybean, 7% in maize and Sesbania, 5% in Desmanthus ,Stylo, Atylosia and Clitoria and 3% in Ciratro, sweet sudan grass and green gram.