EFFECT OF LEAF EXTRACT OF SOME MULTIPURPOSE TREES AND ITS CONCENTRATIONS ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF MAIZE

Abstract

Background. There is a need to understand multipurpose trees promotory or inhibitory allelopathic effects prior to selection of any crop to be cultivated in their vicinity. Objective. Present study was carried out during 2019 on Arba Minch University Research Farm with the specific objectives of to investigate the effect of leaf extract of some multipurpose trees and its concentrations on growth and production of Maize. Methodology. Leaf extracts of 3 species namely Moringa stenopetala, Croton macrostachyus and Terminalia brownii were tested at 5 concentration levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). The experiment was laid out with Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The leaf extract was applied at biweekly interval right from its emergence. Results. The growth components which were significantly affected by the application of leaf extracts include leaf length, leaf area, stem thickness and days to tasseling of maize while effect of leaf extract on plant height, number of leaves plants-1, days to silking and days to maturity was found non significant. On the other hand with the exception of number of cobs plant-1 all yield and yield components, like number of grains row-1, number of grains column-1, number of grains cobs-1, 1000-seed weight of cob, length of cob, diameter of cob, fresh and dry yield of maize were significantly varied with leaf extracts of the selected MPTs and their concentration levels. The application of leaf extract resulted in increase in yield from 6.95 T ha-1 (control) to 8.95 T ha-1, 7.58 T ha-1 and 7.40 T ha-1 for Croton macrostachyus, Moringa stenopetala and Terminalia brownii respectively. Implications. The results of the present study contribute in knowing the positive or negative effect of leaf extract of three MPTs on Maize production. Conclusions. It can be concluded that introduction of these multipurpose trees in farmland under agroforestry system is safe and without any inhibitory allelopathy. Thus leaf extract application of these species are recommended for further improvement of maize yield.