PHYTOTOXICITY OF DIFFERENT AVAILABLE SPICES IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The phytotoxic effect of different spices plant extract was investigated on the germination and seedling growth of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus- galli L.) with experiment carried out in Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemistry , Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, during the period from October 2019 to September 2020.The effect of spices plant extracts of Clove, Black paper, Bay leaf, Cinnamon, Cardamom at the concentration of E0 (control; no extract), E1 (0.01 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL), E2 (0.03 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL), E3 (0.1 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL) and E4 (0.3 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL) were studied on germination, root and shoot length of okra and barnyard grass. The experiment was done under Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed that all the test plant species were inhibited under extracts of all spices plant. Results indicated that all concentrations of plant extract had phytotoxic effect on okra and barnyard grass. The concentration of 0.3 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL completely inhibited the germination, root and shoot growth both of okra and barnyard grass among all the concentration. At the same concentration Clove extract showed the highest phytotoxic effect on seed germination of okra (31%) and barnyard grass (30%). Again, in terms of root length of okra, Bay leaf extract at the 0.3 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL concentration showed highest phytotoxic effect and gave lowest root length (0.71 mm). Similarly, Cinnamon extract at the 0.3 mg dry wt. eq. extract/mL concentration on barnyard grass had the highest phytotoxic effect for shoot and root length (0.75 and 1.3 mm, respectively). The above results suggested that tested spices plant may have phytotoxins. Therefore, it is possible to use these extracts as a component for production of bio-herbicides due to their phytotoxic effects on weeds and crops and considered as a natural way for sustainable weed management.