Allelopathic Effect of Ivory Coast Almond (Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev.) Leaf Aqueous Extract on Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars

Wider distribution of Ivory Coast Almond (Terminalia ivorensis) into farmland areas, is getting worrisome in northern part of Nigeria. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the allelopathic effect of T. ivorensis aqueous leaf extract on germination percentage and seedling growth of some cultivated maize cultivars (EWH-79, EEWH-123 & TZE-YDT-STR). Petri dish experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Federal University Gusau. Different concentrations of 0% (Distilled water), 5%, 25%, 50% and 100% were prepared from 10g/L crude extract. Germination percentage, length of radicle and plumule were determined. The findings of this study showed Allelopathic interaction of T. ivorensis aqueous leaf extract on germination percentage of the three maize cultivars has no significant effect compared with the Control (P > 0.05). Inhibitory effect of T. ivorensis aqueous leaf extract on plumule length of all the maize cultivars was observed to be significant (P< 0.05). EWH-79 and EEWH-123 showed no variation with the control at 5% of the extract concentration. Furthermore, no pronounced allelopathic effect between the aqueous leaf extract and the control in the radicle length of all the maize cultivars. This study delineated allelochemicals of T. ivorensis inhibits plumule development of the cultivars which in turn affects the plant physiology. The inhibition in increasing order of EWH-79 > EEWH > TZE-YDT-STR.