ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit AND Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ON THE GERMINATION, GROWTH AND YIELD OF Zea mays L.
Keywords:
Allelopathic effects, Seed vigour, Leucaena, Elaies leaf extractsAbstract
This study assessed the allelopathic effects of leaf extracts of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. on the germination, growth and yield of maize. Fresh leaves of Leucaena leucocephala and Elaeis guineensis were air-dried, ground to powder and used to prepare leaf extracts at two concentrations: 3% and 6%. Ten maize seeds were sown in petri-dishes; three petri-dishes representing each treatment, with two replicates per treatment. Number of germinated seeds were recorded daily to determine germination percentage, germination speed, seed vigour index and mean germination time. Three maize seeds were planted in each of 100 polythene pots, twenty pots representing each treatment. The experiment was replicated in another 100 pots with fertilizer application. Plant height, collar diameter, number of leaves and biomass were assessed fortnightly for 12 weeks. Number of days to flowering and number of days to fruiting were also assessed. From the germination experiment, 3% Elaeis and 3% Leucaena had the highest germination percentage (100%), followed by 6% Elaeis (96.7%), while the control had the least (90%). The 3% Leucaena had the highest germination speed (4.81), followed by 3% Elaeis (4.67), while 6% Leucaena had the least (3.99). The 3% Elaeis had the highest seed vigour index (1133.33), followed by 3% Leucaena (1066.67), while 6% Leucaena had the least (780). Control had the longest germination time (2.68 days/seed), followed by 6% Leucaena (2.540 days/seed), while 3% Leucaena had the shortest (2.13 days/seed). There were significant differences in the heights of maize across the treatments. The 6% Elaeis + Urea had the highest height (76.42 cm), while 3% Elaeis had the least (49.58 cm). The 3% Elaeis had the highest collar diameter (8.59 mm), followed by 6% Elaeis (8.44 mm), while control had the least (7.28 mm). The 3% Leucaena had the highest number of leaves (9.00), followed by 3% Elaeis (8.96), while 6% Leucaena had the least (8.12). The 3% Elaeis treatment had the highest biomass (50.41 g), followed by 3% Leucaena (48.94 g), while 6% Leucaena had the least (46.1 g). There were significant differences among the yields of maize across the treatments, with 3% Leucaena + Urea having the highest yield (28.48g), while 3% Elaeis had the least (8.70 g). Lower concentrations of Leucaena leucocephala and Elaeis guineensis had inhibitory allelopathic effects on the growth and yield of maize while higher concentrations had stimulatory effects.
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