Parthenium hysterophorus Herbage Mulching: a Potential Source of Weeds Control in Soybean (Glycine max)

Abstract

Weeds have indirect effects on crop plants. Crop development is affected by allelopathy from certain weed species. Allelochemicals from allelopathic weeds can disturb the root and shoot growth of emerging crop seedlings, as well as cause several other types of damage. A study was carried out to investigate the allelopathic potential of Parthenium hysterophorus for weed response in soybean. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangements and replicated thrice. Sowing methods (broadcast and line sowing) were kept in the main plot and mulching treatments (surface mulching and soil incorporation) were kept in the sub-plots. Mulching of Parthenium hysterophorus was applied at the rate of 1.0 t ha-1, 2.5 t ha-1, 5 t ha-1 with control (no parthenium). Manual weed control was also used as treatments. The results revealed that significantly higher shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh weigh, root dry weight, number of nodules per plant, nodules fresh and dry weight, number of branches, number of pods per plant, thousand seed weight biological yield, economic yield, dry matter yield and harvest index were recorded with the soil incorporation of Parthenium herbage at the rate of 2.5 t ha-1. Maximum weed density and weed dry biomass were recorded in control plots while weed control efficiency was seen greater in plots where Parthenium herbage was applied to surface at the rate of 5 t ha-1. The results suggested that the use of Parthenium hysterophorus herbage mulching can reduce infestation of weeds by its allelopathic effects and increase the yield of soybean under sub-humid agro-climatic conditions.

Solarização e cobertura morta no solo sobre a infestação de plantas daninhas no feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata)

“…Esses efeitos positivos na cultura do feijoeiro são resultados dos manejos realizados no solo, que reduziram a infestação das plantas daninhas. Quando a lavoura é cultivada livre de plantas daninhas, as plantas melhoram tanto o crescimento quanto o rendimento produtivo (CABRAL et al 2013, SIDDIQUI et al 2018.…”

Exploring of the Potential of Parthenium Weed Ash as Substitute for Commercial Alkali for Preparation of Laundry Soap: As a Means to Control Invasion of Parthenium

“…The weed causes major negative impact on pasture and crops. The weed is also known to be responsible for severe human and animal health problems such as dermatitis, asthma, and bronchitis (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992;Lakshmi and Srinivas, 2007;Khan et al, 2012;Sushilkumar, 2012;Siddiqui et al, 2016). It is not palatable to livestock due to its irritating odor, taste, and presence of trichome hairs.…”

“…The most common ones are (i) Physical control method: it involves the manual uprooting of parthenium before flowering and seed setting. This method is not effective if uprooting the weed after seed setting as it will increase the area of infestation, and it is also a time consuming and unpleasant option due to health-related problems to people that participate in weeding (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992;Lakshmi and Srinivas, 2007;Khan et al, 2012;Sushilkumar, 2012;Siddiqui et al, 2016); (ii) Chemical control method:-this is an effective method to control parthenium in the areas where its natural enemies are absent (Mishra and Bhan, 1994;Javaid, 2007;Gaikwad et al, 2008). Some of the limitations associated with the method are (a) it is effective only at the rosette stage of the weed (Khan et al, 2012), (b) toxicities of the chemicals to other useful plant species, and (c) resistance development against many of herbicides (Ware, 1986;Njoroge, 1991;Singh et al, 2004;Vila-Aiub et al, 2008;Javaid and Adrees, 2009); (iii) Biological control method: it is an environmentally sound and effective means of reducing the weed through the use of natural enemies such as microbial pathogens, insects, and botanicals (Watson and Wymore, 1990;Ray and Gour, 2012).…”