Allelopathic Effect of Fruit Trees on Traditional Agriculture Crops of Garhwal Region

Allelopathic effect of bark and leaves of Malus domestica, Prunus persica and Prunus domestica was evaluated on germination of three agriculture crops viz., Triticum aestivum, Echinochola frumentacea and Elusine coracana. Results revealed both stimulatory and inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts on germination and growth performance of T. aestivum, E. frumentacea and E. coracana. Leaf extract (10%) of P. domestica was found more toxic for germination but the bark extract (5%) of P. domestica showed more stimulatory effect as compared to the other trees. In different leaf and bark extract of all the fruit trees E. frumentacea was more resistant than E. coracana and T. aestivum respectively. Leaf and bark extract of M. domestica, P. persica and P. domestica exhibited the maximum germination percent (88%, 90% and 92%) respectively at lower (2% and 5%) concentrations while, the minimum germination percent (47%, 38% and 58%) were found in higher (10%) concentration. These fruit trees have inhibitory effects at higher concentration but stimulatory effects observed at lower concentration. The tolerance of the crops was in the order of E. frumentacea> E. coracana> T. aestivum as compared to the control. In leaf extract the toxicity of the fruit trees was in the order of P. domestica> M. domestica> P. persica whereas in bark extract toxicity was M. domestica> P. persica> P. domestica on all the test crops.