Allelopathic potential of Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl. Against two crop species

Allelopathic studies were conducted by using aqueous extracts from leaves, stem twigs of Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl., litter and mulching in various experiments. It was seen that the germination, plumule growth, radical growth, no. and growth of seminal roots, fresh weight and dry weight of Triticum aestivum L and Brassica campestris L. were invariably significantly reduce in various bioassays. The aqueous extracts from leaves powdered were more inhibitory than stem twigs for test species Triticum aestivum L. Aqueous extract obtained at room temperature was more inhibitory than hot water extract. Litter and mulching experiments also proved to be inhibitory. It is suggested that various assayed parts of Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl., has strong allelopathic potential at least against the tested species. Further studies are required to see its allelopathic behavior under field condition against its associated species, to identify the toxic principle, and to evalvate as biocontrol agents for weeds, insect and disease control.