Studies on the Allelopathic effects of two Social Forestry trees On Triticum aestivum var Lok1
Authors
Latha Sadanandan Department of Botany, Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Kerala, India.
Mammen Daniel Dr. Daniel’s Laboratories, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Abstract
Both the social forestry trees, Cassia siamea Lam and Melia azedarach Linn, promoted the later
stages of growth of wheat (T. aestivum var. Lok1), though the leaves of M.azedarach tree inhibited
germination and seedling growth. Flowering and fruiting of the crop also were promoted by leaves of
both trees. Of the two groups of allelochemicals, flavonoids and phenolic acids, former was more in
leaves of Melia and latter in Cassia. Melia leaves decomposed faster and left more residual phenolics in
soil especially in summer. Leaf manure of both Cassia and Melia can be used for wheat cultivation,
though the latter plant has to be avoided in the early stages of growth.