PJB-2022-278
IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE SELECTED DISTRICTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA ON ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF DODONAEA VISCOSA (L.) JACQ.
Ishtiaq Ahmad
Abstract
The present study aimed to assess the effect of climatic conditions of Charsadda, Malakand, and Mohmand (districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) on the allelopathic potential and nutrient contents of Dodonaea viscosa (L) Jacq. In the first part of the study, the allelopathic effect of leaves of Dodonaea viscosa harvested from selected districts was determined on wheat variety Faisal Abad-2008. Aqueous extracts of various grades (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18%, 20%, 22%, 24% v/v) from leaves was used to run experiment in the laboratory conditions. Data regarding percent emergence (%), plumule and radical growth (cm), fresh and dry weight (g), and moisture contents (%) of wheat were recorded. The second part of the study was concerned with evaluating the impact of climatic conditions of selected districts on nutrient contents (mg/liter) of Dodonaea viscosa. Leaves of Dodonaea viscosa collected from selected districts of K.Pk were digested and studied for various nutrients. Results related to allelopathic studies of Dodonaea viscosa confirmed significant effects of treatments on radical growth (cm), percent emergence, and dry weight (g) of wheat. However, the response of plumule growth (cm), fresh weight (g), and moisture contents (%) of wheat to treatments was highly non-significant. Lower doses (2% and 4%) of aqueous extract were found stimulatory for radical growth (cm) of wheat as compared to higher treatments. On the other hand, treatments could increase or decrease germination (%) of wheat. Subsequently, treatments (except 10 %) are stimulatory for dry biomass (g) of wheat. According to our findings, climatic conditions of selected districts were unable to produce significant effects on percent emergence (%), moisture contents (%), plumule, and radical growth (g) of wheat. However, parameters like fresh and dry biomass (g) showed significant variations under the climatic conditions of selected districts. Climatic conditions of district Mohmand were most suitable for fresh and dry biomass of wheat. The effect of treatments × climatic factors interaction was significant for dry biomass (g), plumule, and radical growth (cm) only. The study regarding the impact of climatic factors on the mineral composition of Dodonaea viscosa revealed highly significant variations for the studied nutrients. From the study, it is obvious that Dodonaea viscosa could induce variations in radical growth, percent emergence, and dry weight of wheat. However, Dodonaea viscosa has the least effects on plumule and moisture contents of wheat. Furthermore, the climatic conditions of selected districts failed to induce pronounced effects on the primary attributes of wheat (except biomass). On the contrary, the response of nutrient contents of Dodonaea viscosa confirmed significant variations in the climatic conditions of the selected districts. Key words: climatic conditions, Dodonaea viscosa, allelopathy, nutrient contents.
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