Allelopathic Effect of Topsoil Extract From Tectona grandis L. Plantation on the Germination of Lycopersicum esculentum

Abstract

The use of topsoil extracts transferred from Tectona grandis L. plantation to explore similar effects and use of the leaf, bark and root extracts on germination and growth of Lycopersicum esculentum is presented. The study was designed to determine the effect of variation of masses of topsoil extracts from teak plantation on the germination and growth response of tomato seeds planted on another soil whose physico - chemical analysis indicate that it can support plant growth. The topsoil extracts were collected in 5kg, 5.5kg, 6kg and 6.5kg packs and respectively spread on 4 mini - plots each with 3 replications and containing 50 planted tomato seeds. The control was the mini - plot without any topsoil extracts. The results showed that the topsoil extracts were able to suppress the germination of the tomato seeds and the effect increased with the mass used. There was a significantly progressive decrease in the mean tall lengths of the seedlings with mass of topsoil indicating a growth inhibition. However, the effect was not very much pronounced in the comparison of the mean values of the short lengths of the seedlings.

Key words: Allelopathy,  topsoil extracts, germination