Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have beneficial or detrimental effects on the target organisms and the community.
Certain plants secrete allelopathic chemicals which can aid in their survival in natural systems and in cropping systems.
I worked with Cajanus cajan L. the pigeon pea and noted its ability to inhibit the weeds around it. The leaves have specialized glands with secrete a nesineous terpenoid rich substance. The substance can in be shown to inhibit a range of competing weedy species in invitro testing.
Another notable example is the velvetbean Mucuna species this species has ability to deter many weed and insect pests related to a high defensive system focused on the tyrosine amino acid which reacts to form levo dopa dopa chrome and melanin.
The word allelopathy means mutual suffering but there are both positive and negative interactions which can be taken into account.
The use of these plants are heavy biological nitrogen fixers obviating any real ineed of nitrogen fertilizer and the use of these can mean a lesser dependency on on herbicides as they can outcompete many weeds.
In the case of Mucuna they can facilitate the rapid increase in soil organic matter as the Mucuna melanogenic substances are persistent in the soil.
The interplanting of Mucuna in Maize in Central America can give a system of year after year miize production which controls weeds and erosion improves soil and need no major imputs of nitrogen fertilizer or herbicides.
The worlds worst weed purple nutsedge can be controlled with allelopahtic Sudangrass, Pigeonpea and Mucuna.
Allelopathic plant black oats is a very good example of an alleopathic crop effectice as a crop cover crop and as rotational weed controller.
Dear Dr David Olusoji Alabi . See the following useful RG link: Article The Role of Allelopathy in Pest Management and Crop Producti...
Kindly see also the following useful RG link: Article Roles of Allelopathy in Plant Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture
Also check please the following very good RG link: Article Allelopathy in crop/weed interactions - An update
The following RG link is vey useful: Article The role of allelopathy in agricultural pest management
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy