SUPPRESSING EFFECTS OF Eucalyptus camaldulensis L. ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF SIX WEEDS

The suppressing effect of aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis L. was investigated at the Department of Agronomy, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during 2003, by its application to different weed species viz. field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), London rocket (Sisymbrium irio L.), wild safflower (Carthamus oxycantha M.B.), wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.). Five ml of aqueous extract of leaves was applied with an interval of 3 days to each treatment except control. The data showed significantly lower fresh and dry weight of each tested weed as compared to water applied treatment (control). Germination of weeds was adversely affected and count of normal seedlings also was significantly lower than control due to suppressing effect of extract. These results suggest that aqueous extract of Eucalyptus could be used as biological suppressant for weed control.