Effects of aqueous leachates of multipurpose trees on test crops

Abstract

The allelopathic potential of the agroforestry trees Ficus subincisa Buch.-Ham. ex J. E. Smith, Bauhinia purpurea L., and Toona hexandra Wallich ex Roxb. was investigated on Triticum aestivum L., Brassica campestris L., and Hordeum vulgare L. test crops. The leaf and bark leachates of trees were both toxic to the germination of the test crops. The inhibition of the germination of test crops was significant. The effects of leachates on test crops were concentration dependent. So, higher concentrations of leaf and bark leachates showed stimulatory effects on the radicle and plumule growth of all test crops. The acceptance of these multipurpose tree species as agroforestry trees in association with field crops decreased in the order Ficus subincisa, Bauhinia purpurea, and Toona hexandra.