ALLELOPATHIC INFLUENCE OF POPPY (Papaver somniferum L.) ON EMERGENCE AND INITIAL SEEDLING GROWTH OF RED RICE (Oryza punctata L.)

Allelopathy plays crucial role in effective weed control. Opium (Papaver somniferum L.) crop release different allelochemicals at maturity which have potential to act as natural weeds control in different crops. Phytotoxic effect of Papaver somniferum was examined on germination and initial seedling growth of red rice (Oryza punctata L.). Aqueous extract of different plant parts (leaves, stem and flower) were used at various concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8%) along with distilled water as control. The aqueous extracts of leaves, stem and flower of P. somniferum were significantly inhibited the emergence, seedling growth as well as root length (cm), shoot length (cm), fresh weight (g) and dry weight (g) of O. punctata. Maximum mean emergence time (9.18 days) and minimum shoot length (1.13 cm) whereas minimum emergence index (0.89) and emergence percentage (6.67%) was observed under fruit extract at 8% concentration. P. somniferum aqueous extract of stem at 8% concentration take maximum time to complete 50% emergence minimum root length, fresh weight, dry weight of O. punctata. Based on this finding it can be concluded that the phyto-chemicals present in P. somniferum at 8% concentration may cause losses to the related as well as succeeding weeds through allelopathy and must be removed from the field to avoid destructive effects of these weeds.