| ABSTRACT: To investigate the allelopathic influence of soil incorporated plant residues of alligatorweed on emergence and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays), an experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions in the 2014-15 period. The effect of soil amended with whole plant residues of alligatorweed at different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% on w/w basis) was compared with residue free soil (control). Emergence traits, such as emergence percentage, time to 50% emergence, mean emergence time and emergence index were negatively influenced by weed residue incorporation as compared with weed residue free soil. Alligatorweed residues also exerted a pronounced negative influence on root and shoot lengths, root and shoot dry weights and seedling vigor... |
