Allelopathy of weed extracts on yield and its components in four cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Weeds are enemies to the crop plants and have harmful effects on agricultural crops due to several factors such as competition for space, light and nutrients. Allelopathic effects of weed extracts were studied on grain yield and yield components of rice. The experiment was carried out in the Rice Research Institute of Chaparsar, in 2006- 2007, in Tonekabon, Iran (latitude 36°54’ N, longitude 50° 40’E, level -20 m altitude), split plot on basis of randomized completely block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Results showed highly significant differences suggesting substantial to moderate phenotypic variability in most parameters evaluated except number of empty grain and 1000 -grain weight. Also, most yield of single plant obtained from umbrella sedge extract (28.5 g). It seems that umbrella sedge had least minerals in water; it could be affected positively on important factors such as yield of single plant compared to other treatments. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed significant and negative correlation between number of empty grain and yield of single plant (r=-0.42***). It’s implies that grain yield magnitude of Nemat cultivar exhibiting the least number of empty grain. Although yield of single plant was not affected neither by plant height nor number of tiller. In addition, irrigation water due to existence of high mineral and chemical pesticides in upstream of station farms severely was reduced yield. Also, results of this research showed that weed extracts haven’t very allelopathic effect on rice and in end of growing season, that’s better, plant leftover return and remain in field.

Keywords

• oryza sativa
• allelopathy
• yield
• pot experiment
• cultivar