Department of Agronomy Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail. Khan, Pakistan.
Indus Cottons 1: 96–100, (2004).
A study was conducted to evaluate the allelopathic effect of Eucalyptus leaf extracts, soaked, crushed and boiled in tap water, on the seed germination and growth of cotton cv. MNH-93 in 2001. Analysis of variance revealed that all the extracts significantly reduced seed germination, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight compared to the control where no extract was used. The Eucalyptus boiled extract decreased the seed germination to 57% compared to 97% in the control. It also caused the highest decrease in the root length. The highest decrease in the cotton fresh and dry weights was obtained in the crushed extract. The soaked extract produced the highest decrease in cotton shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights. The suppression of cottonseed germination and other growth parameters depicted an allelopathic effect. It is suggested that planting cotton close to Eucalyptus trees should be avoided due to likely adverse effects on germination and growth parameters.
