Allelopathic research on chickpea seeds in Chhattisgarh (India) region ; An overview

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The term Allelopathy is derived from two Greek words Allelon means each other and Pathos means to suffer i.e., the injurious effects of one upon another. However, Molisch (1973) coined this term which refers to all biochemical interactions (stimulatory and inhibitory) among plants, including micro-organisms. It represents the plant against plant aspect of the broader field of chemical ecology. Some authors have used the term in a more restricted senses to describe only the harmful effect of one higher plant upon another.

Allelochemicals which inhibited the growth of some species at certain concentrations may stimulate the growth of same or different species at lower concentrations (Narwal, 1994). Allelopathy is relatively a new branch of science (Lal and Oudhia, 1999). With the help of allelopathy, weed-crop, crop-weed, crop-crop and weed-weed interactions can easily be explained. Under field conditions weed infestation is one of the major factors responsible for yield reduction in crops. Historically, most investigators have attributed these losses to various forms of competition between the weeds and crops and allelopathic interactions between them were not considered. However, findings after 1950’s have shown that allelopathic interactions between the crops and weeds were also partly responsible for such losses in crop yields. As the allelopathic effects are both positive and negative, both of these effects can be utilized for higher crop production (Oudhia et al., 1999a). Negative (stimulatory) allelopathic effects of any weed on crops can be utilized to develop ecofriendly, cheap and effective "Green growth promoters’. Similarly, the positive (inhibitory) allelopathic effects of any weed or crops on weeds can be utilized to develop "Green herbicides" (Oudhia et al. 1999b). Many studies conducted at the Department of Agronomy, IGAU, Raipur to know the allelopathic effects of common weeds on germination and seedling vigour of many popular agricultural crops like rice, wheat, maize groundnut etc. and these studies have revealed that all weeds are not harmful and also beneficial extracts of these weeds can be utilized for crop production (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999a). Chickpea is one of the major rabi crops of Chhattisgarh. Many weeds infest chickpea fields every year (Oudhia and Dixit, 1994; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999b). Due to non-availability of any information on allelopathic effects of common chickpea weeds on germination and seedling vigour of chikpea, series of experiments were conducted during 1994-2000. The major objectives of these studies were (a) To evaluate the allelopathic potential of different parts of weeds (b) To find out farmer’s friendly method for preparation of weed extracts ( c) To identify the promising and potential extract for increasing chickpea production.

Method adopted for studies

In all experiments different parts of weeds were collected from fields adjacent to Agriculture College Campus randomly before flowering, washed thoroughly, cut into fine pieces and immersed in distilled water in different ratio (i.e. 1/10,1/15,1/20,1/25, w/v, respectively). In majority of experiments, 1:10w/v concentration was used. The weed or weed parts were decayed in water for different durations i.e. 24,120,168,216 and 264 hours. After decaying, the extraction was done and extracts were passed / filtered through sieve (2mm mesh). These extracts were applied on chickpea seeds kept in petridishes (10cm dia.) or seeds were soaked overnight in extracts and sown in earthen pots. In case of control, distilled water was used. Germination was noted at 3,5,7,9 and 11 DAS (Days After Sowing) and abnormalities in seedling produced by harmful extracts were also noted. The seedling elongation was noted at 11DAS. The pH and electrical conductivity of extracts were also measured with the help of pH meter and EC bridge. The experiments were laid out in Completely Randomised Design and Randomised Block Design. Each experiment was replicated for at least 5 times and repeated for at least 3 times to minimise the errors. The methods described above was a new method for allelopathic studies earlier and now it is recognised as most simple and farmer’s friendly method. The allelopathic effects of weeds used for study and promising extracts identified are described below.

(A)Allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium hysterophours, commonly known as Congress weed, Feverfew, White top, Ramphool, Gajarghas etc., is a common problematic weed in chickpea fields of Chhattisgarh (Vyas and Oudhia, 1998). Adverse effects of Parthenium not only on human beings but also on animal and crop health have been well documented (Mahadevappa, 1997). Positive and negative allelopathic effects of Parthenium on many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia et al., 1997a; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1998a). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur Parthenium stem + leaf extract of 264 hours was identified as promising extract whereas Parthenium rood extracts of 120 and 168 hours were identified as most harmful extracts for chickpea (Oudhia et al., 1997b).

(B)Allelopathic effects of Blumea lacera

Blumea lacera, locally known as Kukurmutta, is one of the common rabi season weeds in chickpea fields. Allelopathic effects of Blumea on agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia and Thakur, 1996; Oudhia 1997, 1999a; Oudhia and Ganguli, 1999; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999c; Oudhia et al., 1997c, 1998a, 1998b). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, Blumea leaf and root extracts of 264 hours, were identified as promising extracts whereas stem + leaf extract of 120 hours and stem extract of 120 hours were identified as most harmful extracts for chickpea (Oudhia et al 1997d).

(C)Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara

Lantana camara is one of the 10 worst weeds of the world and is serious weed in 14 crops in 47 countries. However, its allelopathic effects on crops have been studied least (Narwal, 1994). Lantana is a common weed of Chhattisgarh region (Oudhia and Ganguli, 1998). Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara on germination and seedling vigour or many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999d, Oudhia et al. 1998c). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, stem extract of 120 hours and stem extract of 264 hours were identified as most promising extracts whereas stem + leaf extract of 264 hours was identified as most harmful extract (Oudhia et. al., 1999c)

(D)Allelopathic effects of Ageratum conyzoides

Ageratum conyzoides, locally known as Mahkua, is a weed of Compositae family. Allelopathic effects of Ageratum on many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia et al,. 1995, 1997a). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, Ageratum stem extract of 264 hours as most promising extract for chickpea (Oudhia et al., 1998d).

(E)Allelopathic effects of Ipomoea carnea

(F)Ipomoea carnea, locally known as Beshram, is an exotic weed and introduced in India as green manure crop. Allelopathic effects of Ipomoea on many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1998b). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, Ipomoea root extracts of 168 hours and 264 hours and stem extracts of 264 hours as most promising extracts. (Oudhia and Tripathi, 2000).

(G)Allelopathic effects of Calotropis gigantea

(H)Calotropis gigantea, locally known as Fudhar, is common wasteland and bund weed in Chhattisgarh. Positive and negative allelopathic effects of Calotropis on many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia et al., 1998e and 1998f; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1997). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, Calotropis stem extract of 264 hours and leaf extract of 216 hours was identified as promising extracts whereas stem extract of 216 hours was identified as most harmful extract (Oudhia et al., 1997e).

(I)Allelopathic effects of Datura stramonium

Datura is an important weed in USA, Australia, tropics and subtropics. It contains a number of alkaloides mainly Scopolamine and Hyoscyamins which are produced in the roots and translocated to the leaves and seeds. Datura is a common weed of Chhattisgarh and its allelopathic effects on many agricultural crops have been reported (Oudhia et al., 1996b and 1999d; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1998c). In experiments conducted at IGAU, Raipur, Datura stem + leaf extract of 264 hours was identified as promising extract whereas stem + leaf extract of 216 hours and leaf extract of 168 hours were identified most harmful extracts (Oudhia et al., 1998g). Besides these weeds, allelopathic effects of leaf extracts of Aeschynomene americana, Abutilon indicum and Euphorbia hirta were also studied. These extracts produced positive (inhibitory) allelopathic effects on germination and seedling vigour of chickpea seeds (Oudhia, 1999g).

The experiments are still in progress at IGAU, Raipur. In these studies, the isolation of allelochemicals from extracts was not done because of lack of laboratory facilities and high cost of chemical analysis. However, from these studies many basic informations have been gathered. The studies revealed that (a) All weeds are not harmful, (2) Different parts of weed have different allelopathic potential, (3) The method adopted for preparation of extracts can alter the allelopathic potential of weed parts. The studies also indicated that there is a tremendous scope of utilizing the extracts of different weeds for presowing soaking of chickpea seeds in order to stimulate the early germination and seedling vigour.

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