Management of Littleseed Canarygrass {Phalaris minor Retz.) by Extracts and Dry Leaf Biomass of Parthenium hysterophorus L.

摘要

Laboratory and pot trials were conducted to evaluate the herbicidal activity of parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) against littleseed canarygrass {Phalaris minor Retz.), a problematic weed of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Pakistan. In laboratory bioassays, the effect of different concentrations [1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% (w/v)] of aqueous leaf, stem and root extracts of parthenium was studied on germination and early seedling growth of P. minor and wheat. Higher concentrations of 4% and 5% of all the extracts significantly reduced germination as well as root and shoot growth of P. minor but generally showed insignificant effect on germination and growth of wheat. In pot trials, soil was amended with different doses of dry leaves of parthenium (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%, dry weight basis), and P. minor and wheat seeds were sown in it. The highest concentration of 4% significantly reduced the germination of both wheat and P. minor. This concentration completely killed all the plants of target weed species but exhibited insignificant effect on survival of wheat. This study concludes that different parts of parthenium contain potent herbicidal constituents for the management of P. minor without having any pronounced detrimental effects on wheat growth.