Herbicidal potential of Alligator [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.] weed
Herbicidal potential of Alligator [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.] weed
- Author(s) S. Kamala Bai, A. Agarwalla, K. N. Geetha, and C.J. Sinchana
- Year: 2025
- Month: January
- Volume: 64
- Pages: 1-12
Weed control is a challenging event during crop cultivation. Natural alternatives to chemical weed control need time and are crucial for sustainable weed control. Chemical weed control is challenging, due to the recent increase in herbicide-resistant biotypes and to the harmful side effects of herbicides on the environment. Integrated management of weeds including the application of bioherbicides, is an emerging method for weed control in sustainable agriculture. Plant extracts, allelochemicals and some microbes are utilized as bioherbicides to control weed populations. Bioherbicides based on plants and microbes inhibit the germination and growth of weeds. One such plant known to have allelopathy property is Alternanthera philoxeroides Mart.) Griseb.]. It is a worldwide obnoxious and invasive weed, causing irreversibly damage in agricultural production especially in Rice and local aquatic ecosystem. Phytotoxic chemicals released by A. philoxeroides into irrigation water and/or directly into rice ecosystems have a significant inhibitory influence on germination, growth and yield of field crops, soil properties and nutrients availability, population and community structure, and weed invasion. Hence, A. philoxeroides can be used as a potential organic alternative to chemical weed-control, due to the higher susceptibility of terrestrial and aquatic weeds to the phytotoxic chemicals released by this weed.
