HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRACTS AGAINST Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Extracts of three medicinal plants namely ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) were assessed for their herbicidal activity against noxious parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.). Aqueous as well as n-hexane extracts of the three test plant species effectively declined germination and early seedling growth of the weed. However, herbicidal potential of the extracts varied with the plant species and the extracting solvent. Herbicidal activity of aqueous extracts of garlic and onion was more pronounced than aqueous extract of ginger. The highest suppressive ability was exhibited by extracts of garlic where 10% and 15% concentrations completely inhibited germination, and root and shoot growth of parthenium. Similarly, n-hexane extract of ginger was found highly effective resulting in complete suppression of germination and seedling growth of parthenium. This study concludes that aqueous extracts of garlic and n-hexane extract of ginger are highly effective for management of parthenium weed.