ABSTRACT
The herbicidal potentials of the aqueous extracts of the leaves of Senna siamea and Pinus carribaea on the germination and seedling growth of Euphorbia heterophylla were investigated. The results showed that the leaf aqueous extracts of the two plants brought about considerable inhibition on the germination of E. heterophylla seeds and reduction in the radicle and plumule lengths of E. heterophylla seedlings. The degree of inhibition increased with increase in the concentration of the extracts, thus suggesting that the effect of the extracts were concentration dependent. The results obtained revealed that the inhibition was pronounced in both extracts such that no germination of E. heterophylla seeds and plumule occurred until 48hrs and 96hrs of the experiment respectively. It was apparent that Senna siamea extracts had more inhibitory effect on E. heterophylla seeds than those of Pinus carribaea treated seeds as no radicle growth was clearly observed in the Senna siamea treated seeds until 72hours experimental time whereas in Pinus carribaea treated seeds, radicle growth was observed at 48hours of the experiment. Statistical analysis (P < 0.05) revealed that significant differences were observed in the germination, radicle and plumule lengths of the two extracts treated seeds when compared to the control experiments. The inhibitory effects of the aqueous extracts derived from the leaves of Senna siamea and Pinus carribaea might be useful in the control of E. heterophylla in farmlands. Further studies should be carried out to ascertain the bio- herbicidal potentials of these plants.
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