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ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF SENNA (CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA VAHL.)  ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING CHARACTERS OF SOME MAJOR CEREAL CROPS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED GRASSY WEEDS

SAJJAD HUSSAIN, SADAR UDDIN SIDDIQUI, SHAHIDA KHALID, ATIF JAMAL, ABDUL QAYYUM AND ZAHOOR AHMAD

Abstract: Senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) locally known as Sana Makki , an important medicinal plant, was investigated for its allelopathic potential against four major cereal crops i.e., maize, rice, sorghum and wheat as well as their associated grassy weeds viz., Avena fatua, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Echinocloa colona, Phalaris minor and Sorghum halepense.  Senna was employed as plant extract, mulch and soil incorporation along with control. Data on germination percentage (%), shoot length (mm), root length (mm), shoot fresh weight (g), root fresh weight (g), shoot dry weight (g), root dry weight (g) and number of leaves was recorded as measures of its allelopathic potential on these crops and their associated weeds. All senna treatments invariably affected germination and seedling growth characters of all crops and weed species under test. However, a remarkably pronounced effect was observed in senna-Avena fatua and senna-wheat interactions in which mulching of senna drastically reduced the germination of Avena fatua to 11% over control alongwith promoting all seedling growth characters of wheat crop. Hence, allelopathic potential of senna can be successfully employed to combat an invasive weed of wheat while at the same time mitigating the ill-effects of herbicidal use on economy, health and environment.

National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad-45500, Pakistan