Allelopathic activity of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) and Neem (Azadirachta indica A.Juss) leaves extract on Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

Agrochemical plays a significant role in agriculture fields. However, the negative impacts of agrochemical to the environment are inevitable. The effects of agrochemicals to the soil, water and air is polluting the environment yet the application of agrochemical is not reduced. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of aqueous Tulsi and Neem leaves extract as bioherbicide on goose grass. Experiment was conducted by various concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) of aqueous Tulsi
(Ocimum sanctum L) and Neem (Azadirachta indica A.Juss) leaves extracts on goose grass (Eleusine indica) weed. The seed germination and growth of treated weeds was determined through conducting this experiment under laboratory and nursery conditions. Tulsi and Neem leaves were dried and grind into powder. Stoke solution of 50gram of powder into 250ml distilled water was prepared separately for both extracts. It is then kept in orbital shaker for 24 hours under 250rpm for continuous agitation. Dilution process
was conducted to make various concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%. The results obtained by determining the seed germination percentage, shoot elongation, shoot fresh weight and root length of the goosegrass under both nursery and laboratory conditions. The aqueous leaf extract of Tulsi and Neem was found to have allelopathic effect on shoot and root elongation, seed emergence, and shoot fresh weight by inhibiting the growth. The results proven that the inhibitory effect was much more pronounced by combined extract with the highest concentration.