Abstract:
VlcdlclOal plant-, have been known as candidates of allclopmhic potcnual to their ability to cvlubu
nllclochermcals .\n cxpcnmcnt wa-, conducted 10 evaluate the effect (If ullelopathic acnvhics of five
medicinal plants. i.c .. asparaguv ( "I'(mlgll~ I"tlCC/IIfI.\'1.\wiid.). lcbbeck t Alhizia Iebbeck), dcvil's couon
(.Ihmma tll/gll.\/tI). ~arlct gourd «('",dllell cortl/li,lw). and spreading hogwced (Boerhavia (/rill/It! 111111)
on the root and ~h.)()t growth of okra and barnyard grass. Hvc concentrations of each medicinal pl.lIlt
cvrracr viz, 1: (control: no extrncr), r, (0,0 I mg dry WI. cq, cxtract/ml.), T: (0.03 mg df') \\ t. C4.
cvtracuml.). T, (0.1 mg dry 111. eq. extract/rnl.) and T. (0.3 mg dry WI. eq. extractrnl.) were used for the
mrerfcrcncc rest. TI,,: experiment was laid out in a completely rnndcmizcd design (eRO) with three
replications. Results indicated that all concentrations of plant extract showed an inhibitory effect on okra
and barnyard gras- Among the concentrations of plant extract. T. (0.) 1Ilg. dry \\1, cq. extract} mL) showed
the highest intcrrupuve effect on both okra and barnyard grass, In terms of root length of okra. spreading
hogweed and scarlet gourd extract at T. (0.3 mg dry WI. eq. extract! mt.) showed the highest allclopathic
effect and gave the 101\1,·,1 root length (0.533 mm). The spreading of hogwecd extract at T" (0.3 mg dry \~1,
eq. extract mL) conccnmuion on barnyard grass seeds showed the highest allelopthic effect for the shoot
and root length (i.e .. 1.9 mm and 0.93 nun. respectively). The interference results above ,ugg~t Ih31
Coccinea cordifolia and Bocrhuvia diffl/se L. might haw allelopathic potential due to some nativ C
allclochcmicals, Therefore. ('OCciIlCU cordifolio and Boerhuvio di!li'.\1! L. could be used as mulch or soil
additives to suppress weeds fur sustainable crop production.
