#parthenium

Studies were carried out to scrutinize allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on germination and growth of maize crop. Seed germination, seedling growth and biomass production was also examined. Distilled water was use as a control treatment. Completely randomized design (CRD) was used along with five treatments and three replications. Results revealed that there is significant difference among treatments applied. All extracts of Parthenium stimulate germination of maize when compared with control. Among the treatments applied seed treatment has very pronounced result on germination percentage, germination index, and mean germination time and germination energy. Whereas seedling parameters are positively affected by application of root extracts except for seedling vigor index and shoot dry weight. However, Shoot extracts has also encouraging outcomes on emergence energy and emergence percentage. It was suggested that further experimentation was needed to explore the stimulatory role of Parthenium on maize so that this weed can be used as bioherbicide.