Effects and Mechanisms of Lactobacillus Probiotics in Maintaining Women's Vaginal Health: A Review

Agricultural / Plant Sciences | Research article | https://doi.org/10.47262/SL/12.3.132024331

Impact of Plant-Based Pre-Emergence Bio-Herbicide Application on Weed Density, Survival and Growth of Oryza sativa L.

Sijuade Olutope Omotosho, Otitoloju Kekere*

Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Concerns about the negative impacts of chemical weed control for crop production have called for the need for bio-herbicides for sustainable environmental management. This study aimed to assess the pre-emergence bio-herbicide potential of botanicals (Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Euphorbia hirta, Aspilia africana and Tithonia diversifolia) on rice at early growth stage. A field of rice was treated with aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and air-dried powders of leaves, stems and roots of the botanicals; chemical herbicide (Atrazine); cultural method (hand weeding); and the control. It was a pre-emergence treatment set up in a randomized complete block design with intra- and inter-row spacing of 22.5 × 22.5 cm and replicated 10 times. The botanicals reduced weed density by 60%-80%. All rice plants survived under weed control with bio-herbicides against chemical herbicide with 60% mortality. Aqueous extracts (AE), ethanolic extracts (EE) and plant powders (PP) increased rice height by 55.0%, 54.7% and 57.4%, respectively relative to the control. The number of tillers produced with AE, EE and PP treatments also increased by 67.7%, 72.3% and 65.9%, while leaf area was increased by 24.1%, 9.6% and 14.2%, respectively. The fresh weight of rice was increased from 100 g in the control to 258.9, 266.1 and 166.5 g in AE, EE and PP treatments, respectively. Similarly, the dry weight values were higher under AE (97.45 g), EE (108.18 g) and PP (88.20 g) treatments than the control (32.20 g). Leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts were most effective in weed suppression (65-85%); at par with chemical herbicide (96%). The bio-herbicides appeared to be highly capable of suppressing weeds and improving rice growth.