EFFECT OF ALLELOCHEMICALS PRESENT IN LEAF LITTER OF BOMBAX CEIBA L. AND POPULUS DELTOIDES L. TREE SPECIES ON WHEAT IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM

The study was organized to analyze the allelopathic influence of leaf litter of Populus deltoides (poplar) and Bombax ceiba (simal) tree species under the agroforestry system during December 2018-2019 in the research area of the Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The allelopathic interference of both tree species was determined on the germination, radicle and plumule length plant height, number of productive tillers, spike length, spikelets per spike, grains per spike 00-grains weight, leaf area index, leaf area duration, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index were recorded. Biochemical analysis of leaf proline, chlorophyll contents, and leaf malondialdehyde contents was also carried out. Water-related attributes were also examined as osmotic potential, water potential and pressure potential of wheat. In the present study, the wheat was grown in pots and screened to analyze the allelopathic potential of Bombax ceiba L. and Populus deltoides L. by using four different leaf powder concentrations of 0 g/pot 30 g/pot, 60 g/pot and 90 g/pot of both tree species separately. There were observed significant inhibitory effects of Populus deltoides L. on wheat as compared to Bombax ceiba L. as the concentration of leaf litter of both tree species was increased.