Allelopathic effects of Leucaena leucocephala and Tectona grandis on germination and growth of maize

Effects of aqueous leaf, bark and seed extracts of two tree species viz. [subabul (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) and teak (Tectona grandis L.)] were tested in bioassay and pot culture on germination, radicle length, growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The leaf extract were more toxic than bark and seed and Leucaena was more inhibitory to germination (P<0.05) than Tectona. On the contrary, the Tectona growth media was more harmful to growth and yield of maize than Leucaena. The toxic effects of Leucaena followed the order: crushed seeds >leaf litter > soil root zone, while Tectona followed the order: leaf litter > crushed seeds > soil root zone. Thus Leucaena was less harmful tree than Tectona for maize intercropping in agroforestry systems of Mizoram.