Abstract:
The present study was conducted to determine allelopathic effects of parthenium compost and to
investigate whether ratio of parthenium composted with other plant materials have an influence on
allelopathic potential of parthenium. Two emergence and growth experiments were conducted using
lettuce as a model plant. Fresh parthenium reduced lettuce emergence percentage and rate and radicle
and plumule lengths by 93, 95, 97 and 93%, respectively. Composted parthenium however reduced
emergence percentage and rate and radicle and plumule lengths by 0, 33, 35 and 43%, respectively.
Composting parthenium with other plant materials reduced allelopathic inhibition effects of parthenium
on lettuce emergence rate and radicle and plumule lengths more than composting parthenium alone.
Our results clearly showed that composting greatly reduced allelopathic effects of parthenium
compared to fresh parthenium. Furthermore, composting parthenium with other plants resulted in
lower inhibition of emergence rate and radicle and plumule lengths compared to composting
parthenium alone. Hence, we suggest parthenium composting with locally available plant materials as
a means to reduce its allelopathic inhibitory effect and as a way of parthenium management by
utilization.
