Allelopathic Effect of Nutgrass (Cyperus tuberosus) Seed and Leaf Extract on The Germination Of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Abstract

The effects of leaf and root extracts of Cyperus tuberosus on the germination of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) was investigated using six (6) aqueous extract levels (0.0 g/cm3, 0.5 3 3 3 3 3 g/cm , 1.5 g/cm , 2.0 g/cm , 2.5 g/cm and 3.0 g/cm ).There were 6 treatments with 3 replicates fitted into completely randomized design (CRD) at the Micro-biology Laboratory of the Science Laboratory Technology Department of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. It was observed from the results that the aqueous extract concentration of 0.5g/cm3 and 1.0g/cm3 had significant (P<0.05) effect on the germination of groundnut and that the toxic chemical released by C. tuberosus aqueous extract affected the germination of groundnut at the beginning of the experiment for all the treatments. The results also revealed that different concentrations of leaf extract caused significant inhibitory effect on germination of the test crop. Bioassays also indicated that the inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts and higher concentrations had the stronger inhibitory effect, whereas, the lower concentrations showed stimulatory effect in some cases. This investigation also shows that the leaf extract of C. tuberosus have more allelopathic effect than seed extract.