drought or frost kills the plant. Each mature Parthenium plant can generate as many
as 15,000 seeds (Dhileepan 2012). Parthenium is considered as one of the most
harmful terrestrial weeds because of its allelopathic effect and photo- and thermoinsensitivity. Parthenium weed contains a number of potential allelochemicals
within its leaves and roots. It is reported that these chemicals can inhibit the
germination and growth of a wide range of plant species, including native plants
as well as various crops and pasture species. The allelopathic effect of this weed is
evident by various experiments carried out over the time. A study conducted on the
effect of Parthenium root extract on the germination and shoot growth of maize and
barley reported that with the increased concentration of root extract, there is a
decrease in the germination and shoot growth. On germination shoot length, root
length, seed vigour, tolerance index and fresh and dry weight of bean seedlings are
inhibited by the Parthenium hysterophorus L. leaves, stem and flower extracts
(Tahseen et al. 2015). Parthenium weed residues are reported to have a phytotoxic
effect upon the number of important field, horticultural, vegetable and agroforestry
crops (Adkins and Shabbir 2014). It is spreading in all the ecosystems, suppressing
the native vegetations and disturbing the natural habitat of endemic species.
This is the noxious weed which is considered to be one of the worst weeds
currently known. This weed is responsible for severe human and animal ailments
like asthma, bronchitis, dermatitis, allergies, hay fever, black spots, choking, etc.
(Maishi et al. 1998). It is believed that the seeds of this weed came to India with
grains imported from the USA in the 1950s under the USPL 480 scheme, also known
as ‘Food for Peace’ which was a food assistance program of the US government
(Singh et al. 2008). Since then this weed is causing a great damage to the terrestrial
habitat. Parthenium hysterophorus L. has a large number of harmful aspects, and its
eradication is a challenge because of its epidemic proliferation and strong reproductive potential. Due to its high fecundity, a single plant of Parthenium can produce
10,000–15,000 viable seeds, and these seeds can disperse and germinate to cover
large areas.
Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a terrestrial weed which is threatening the
terrestrial ecosystems of the world mainly agricultural fields. The management of
this weed has been tried by many ways including mechanically, manually and by
burning, but this type of management is not a sustainable method to control this
weed. Moreover it is not having any economic benefit. The objective of this chapter
is to suggest one of the most suitable methods for the management of the Parthenium
weed which is environment-friendly and economical. It also helps in converting the
Parthenium biomass into a useful product, i.e. vermicompost. This vermicompost
can be used in the agricultural fields as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for the crop growth.
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D. Sharma and A. B. Chowdhary
as 15,000 seeds (Dhileepan 2012). Parthenium is considered as one of the most
harmful terrestrial weeds because of its allelopathic effect and photo- and thermoinsensitivity. Parthenium weed contains a number of potential allelochemicals
within its leaves and roots. It is reported that these chemicals can inhibit the
germination and growth of a wide range of plant species, including native plants
as well as various crops and pasture species. The allelopathic effect of this weed is
evident by various experiments carried out over the time. A study conducted on the
effect of Parthenium root extract on the germination and shoot growth of maize and
barley reported that with the increased concentration of root extract, there is a
decrease in the germination and shoot growth. On germination shoot length, root
length, seed vigour, tolerance index and fresh and dry weight of bean seedlings are
inhibited by the Parthenium hysterophorus L. leaves, stem and flower extracts
(Tahseen et al. 2015). Parthenium weed residues are reported to have a phytotoxic
effect upon the number of important field, horticultural, vegetable and agroforestry
crops (Adkins and Shabbir 2014). It is spreading in all the ecosystems, suppressing
the native vegetations and disturbing the natural habitat of endemic species.
This is the noxious weed which is considered to be one of the worst weeds
currently known. This weed is responsible for severe human and animal ailments
like asthma, bronchitis, dermatitis, allergies, hay fever, black spots, choking, etc.
(Maishi et al. 1998). It is believed that the seeds of this weed came to India with
grains imported from the USA in the 1950s under the USPL 480 scheme, also known
as ‘Food for Peace’ which was a food assistance program of the US government
(Singh et al. 2008). Since then this weed is causing a great damage to the terrestrial
habitat. Parthenium hysterophorus L. has a large number of harmful aspects, and its
eradication is a challenge because of its epidemic proliferation and strong reproductive potential. Due to its high fecundity, a single plant of Parthenium can produce
10,000–15,000 viable seeds, and these seeds can disperse and germinate to cover
large areas.
Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a terrestrial weed which is threatening the
terrestrial ecosystems of the world mainly agricultural fields. The management of
this weed has been tried by many ways including mechanically, manually and by
burning, but this type of management is not a sustainable method to control this
weed. Moreover it is not having any economic benefit. The objective of this chapter
is to suggest one of the most suitable methods for the management of the Parthenium
weed which is environment-friendly and economical. It also helps in converting the
Parthenium biomass into a useful product, i.e. vermicompost. This vermicompost
can be used in the agricultural fields as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for the crop growth.
196
D. Sharma and A. B. Chowdhary