Effect of Leaf Extracts of Swietenia mahagoni L. on Some Selected Crops

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of leaf extracts of Swietenia mahagoni L. on three selected crops. There were three test crops namely chilli, (Capcicum annum), brinjal (Solanum melangona) and okra (Abelomoschus esculentas) and four levels of mahagoni leaf extracts viz., distilled or tap water (conrol), 1%, 2% and 3% leaf extracts in laboratory condition and same concentration of leaf extracts in pot condition. The design was completely randomized design (CRD) in the laboratory and completely randomized design (CRD) in the pot with three replications. The results of laboratory experiment showed that the leaf extracts had inhibitory effects to all the tested crop and inhibition rate increased with the increase of levels. It was also recorded that inhibition rate of mahagoni leaf extracts in differed with different species. In case of pot experiment, leaf extracts of mahagoni also inhibited the germination of three tested crops. Morphological parameters like plant height (cm) showed significantly better growth in control over leaf extracts in all the tested crops at the both condition. Similar results were recorded for biomass allocation like total dry weight (g). From the overall results it can be concluded that allelopathic effect of leaf extracts of Mahagoni on the agricultural crops inhibited more in laboratory compared to field pot condition.