Ali AhsanBajwa, Dr.
Muhammad Farooq and Zahid Ata Cheema
Allelopathy
Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
Increasing
global population demands high crop production to meet the food requirements.
Sustainable agriculture ensures the food security, food safety and
environmental protection simultaneously. Allelopathy is one of the key processes
being used in organically managed agro-ecosystems. It is a natural ecological
phenomenon in which plants or micro organisms influence the growth and
functioning of others in their vicinity by releasing specific chemicals known
as allelochemicals. These chemicals are released in environment by
volatilization, leaching, decomposition and root exudation.
Allelopathy
has two dimensions; inhibitory and promotory. Inhibitory role of allelopathy
has been intensively studied and has been utilized effectively in organic weed
management. But its growth stimulatory effects are less explored and this novel
aspect was neglected so far. Allelochemicals are naturally released in aerial
and soil environment but the use of allelopathic crop water extracts as foliage
application has shown good results regarding weed control. Allelochemicals are
concentration dependent. They increase crop growth at low concentrations while
suppress the growth at high concentrations. Recent research has shown that
water extracts of sorghum, brassica, sunflower, rice and moringa improve growth
of different arable crops and vegetables, when applied at low concentrations.
Scientific studies show that low concentrations of such chemicals improve and
regulate different physiological processes like seed germination, root growth,
chlorophyll accumulation, photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf expansion and
genetic encodings and subsequently growth and yield.
Allelopathy
can be employed for crop growth promotion and yield maximization in modern
agriculture avoiding the environmental hazards of chemical growth regulators.
Scientists have done a lot of work on synthetic plant growth regulators but did
not get much success regarding their adoption in farming community especially
in developing countries like us. This failure is mainly due to high prices of
such growth promoters. Whereas, allelopathic water extracts are cost effective,
eco friendly and efficient. They have no negative impact on environment and are
already present at the door step of farmer. We just have to optimize their
concentration which can perform best in the field. This work is in augmenting
progress at Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and
encouraging research findings are reinforcing the concept and its application
in today’s agriculture.
In
near future the use of allelopathy for crop growth promotion will be the most
acceptable and applicable option because of its numerous and long term
advantages. In the long run it can ensure the provision of wholesome and
nutritious food around the clock.
Article Published with Special Permission of Author, Article also Published in http://www.technologytimes.pk/ on March 2, 2013.
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- ALI AHSAN BAJWA ALI AHSAN BAJWA ALI AHSAN BAJWA Visit My Site
- ALI AHSAN BAJWA is a Student of M.Sc (Hons) Agronomy at Department of Agronomy University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Dr. Muhammad Farooq and Zahid Ata Cheema, are associated with Allelopathy Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.Contact Information Email: aliahsan2195@gmail.com
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