Allelopathic effects of leaf leachates of multipurpose trees on vegetables.
John J., Sreekumar K. M., Rekha P.
Author Affiliation: Cropping Systems Research Centre, Kerala Agricultural University, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram 695 002, Kerala, India.
Allelopathy Journal 19 : 507-516
Abstract : Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted during January-May 2003 at the College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala, India, to assess the allelopathic influence of leaf leachates of 10 multipurpose trees (Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mangifera indica, Ailanthus triphysa, Anacardium occidentale, Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis, Thespesia populnea, Casuarina equisetifolia, Gliricidia sepium and Strychnos nux-vomica) on Vigna unguiculata cv. Kanakamony, Momordica charantia cv. Preethi and Solanum melongena cv. Haritha. The nature and degree of allelopathic effects of trees varied with crop species. Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis, C. equisetifolia and Strychnos nux-vomica caused severe allelopathic inhibition of V. unguiculata. G. sepium, Thespesia populnea, Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis and Anacardium occidentale were incompatible with Solanum melongena. Ailanthus triphysa, Anacardium occidentale, Strychnos nux-vomica, M. indica, Thespesia populnea, Tamarindus indica and Tectona grandis were detrimental to bitter gourd. The inhibitory effects of the leaf leachates of the multipurpose tree species were more prominent in Solanum melongena than in V. unguiculata and Momordica charantia. Results show the allelopathic compatibility between the multipurpose trees and vegetables and will prove valuable to develop productive agroforestry systems for growing vegetables with these trees.