Allelopathy effect of Prosopis juliflora on selected grass species (Cenchrus ciliaris, Paspalidium desertorum and Lintonia nutans)

Abstract

Prosopis juliflora growing frightening rate of invasiveness had affected the livelihood of the pastoral communities in the Amibara rangeland of Afar National Regional State. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the allelopathy effect of an aqueous leaf, bark, and root extracts of Prosopis juliflora on selected grass species such as Cenchrus ciliaris, Paspalidium desertorum, and Lintonia nutans. A total of 10 soil samples were collected from the Amibara rangeland of Afar National Regional State. The collected soil samples were mixed in a plastic bag to get composite soil. Further, the composite soil sample was subjected to analysis of physic-chemical characters (pH, soil organic matter, phosphorus, and nitrogen content). To study the allelopathy effect of Prosopis juliflora on selected grass species. To this, aqueous extracts were prepared from powdered leaf, bark, and root of Prosopis juliflora at different concentration levels (0%, 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%). Further, the extracts were subjected to analysis of seed germination percentage and seedling growth of selected grass species such as Cenchrus ciliaris, Paspalidium  desertorum and Lintonia nutans. Prosopis juliflora showed a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination of Cenchrus ciliaris, Paspalidium  desertorum,  and Lintonia nutans. grass species. Among the leaf, bark, and root aqueous extracts, the leaf showed the highest inhibitory effect on seed germination percentage, and the effect also concentration-dependent. Prosopis juliflora aqueous extracts of leaf, bark, and root of were exhibited significant inhibition on the fresh shoot biomass weights of Cenchrus ciliaris, Paspalidium desertorum and Lintonia nutans. when compared to the control. While the fresh shoot biomass weight of Cenchrus ciliaris and Paspalidium desertorum was highly deteriorated at (5% and 10%). Whereas, the fresh shoot biomass weight of Lintonia nutans momentously retarded at (1% and 5%) as compared to the control.