Abstract
Allelopathy is a naturally occurring ecological phenomenon in which the living
organisms produce and release the biochemicals (allelochemicals) in the environment that affect the growth, development, reproduction, and survival of other living
organisms in the surrounding environment. For field crops, the phenomenon of
allelopathy can be exploited in the form of intercropping, use of cover crops,
mulching, crop rotations, and use of plant water extracts alone or in combination
with reduced doses of herbicides to provide effective control of the agricultural
pests and diseases. For the control of insect pests (field and storage insect pests), the
use of allelopathic plant water extracts and the powder of allelopathic plants may be
quite useful. The allelochemicals affect the growth of unwanted plants (e.g., weeds)
through changes in the cell structure, inhibition of cell elongation/division, disruption of membrane structures, and disruption of water and nutrient uptake and the
process of photosynthesis. The phenomenon of allelopathy is ecofriendly, and it
may help significantly reduce the usage of pesticides. Thus, the phenomenon of
allelopathy provides an attractive ecological alternative to pesticides for controlling
the pests and diseases of the agricultural crops. In this chapter, we have discussed
the mechanism of allelochemicals for growth inhibition in plants and the role of
crop rotation, allelopathic mulches, allelopathic cover crops, intercrops, and allelopathic water extracts (alone or with reduced doses of herbicides) in weed
management. The role of allopathic water extracts and allelopathic powders for
managing the insect pests and diseases has also been described.
Keywords
Allelopathy · Weeds · Crop rotation · Intercropping · Cover crops · Mulching ·
Insect pests · Diseases
1
Introduction
There is continuous increase in the food demands owing to continuously increasing
global population. The fast growth of world population calls for producing foods
in bulk quantities to ensure food security [1]. Although, the production of field crops
has increased several folds, the pressure of agricultural pests (weeds and insects) and
diseases is also increasing. These demands develop strategies to control the pests and
diseases with no or low dependence of synthetic pesticides, to save the ecosystem
and ensure the production of good quality food [2]. In the past, the increase in
herbicide residue in food and groundwater has threatened the long-term usage of
herbicides in the diverse agroecosystems for controlling weeds. The herbicide and
insecticide resistance has also emerged as a serious issue which may threaten the
future food security [3, 4].
In this scenario, the effective use of phenomenon of allelopathy in
agroecosystems may offer pragmatic option to reduce the pests and diseases pressure
with low reliance on synthetic chemicals. According to Rice [5], allelopathy is
544
A. Nawaz et al.
Allelopathy is a naturally occurring ecological phenomenon in which the living
organisms produce and release the biochemicals (allelochemicals) in the environment that affect the growth, development, reproduction, and survival of other living
organisms in the surrounding environment. For field crops, the phenomenon of
allelopathy can be exploited in the form of intercropping, use of cover crops,
mulching, crop rotations, and use of plant water extracts alone or in combination
with reduced doses of herbicides to provide effective control of the agricultural
pests and diseases. For the control of insect pests (field and storage insect pests), the
use of allelopathic plant water extracts and the powder of allelopathic plants may be
quite useful. The allelochemicals affect the growth of unwanted plants (e.g., weeds)
through changes in the cell structure, inhibition of cell elongation/division, disruption of membrane structures, and disruption of water and nutrient uptake and the
process of photosynthesis. The phenomenon of allelopathy is ecofriendly, and it
may help significantly reduce the usage of pesticides. Thus, the phenomenon of
allelopathy provides an attractive ecological alternative to pesticides for controlling
the pests and diseases of the agricultural crops. In this chapter, we have discussed
the mechanism of allelochemicals for growth inhibition in plants and the role of
crop rotation, allelopathic mulches, allelopathic cover crops, intercrops, and allelopathic water extracts (alone or with reduced doses of herbicides) in weed
management. The role of allopathic water extracts and allelopathic powders for
managing the insect pests and diseases has also been described.
Keywords
Allelopathy · Weeds · Crop rotation · Intercropping · Cover crops · Mulching ·
Insect pests · Diseases
1
Introduction
There is continuous increase in the food demands owing to continuously increasing
global population. The fast growth of world population calls for producing foods
in bulk quantities to ensure food security [1]. Although, the production of field crops
has increased several folds, the pressure of agricultural pests (weeds and insects) and
diseases is also increasing. These demands develop strategies to control the pests and
diseases with no or low dependence of synthetic pesticides, to save the ecosystem
and ensure the production of good quality food [2]. In the past, the increase in
herbicide residue in food and groundwater has threatened the long-term usage of
herbicides in the diverse agroecosystems for controlling weeds. The herbicide and
insecticide resistance has also emerged as a serious issue which may threaten the
future food security [3, 4].
In this scenario, the effective use of phenomenon of allelopathy in
agroecosystems may offer pragmatic option to reduce the pests and diseases pressure
with low reliance on synthetic chemicals. According to Rice [5], allelopathy is
544
A. Nawaz et al.