The Ability To Compete Of Allelopathy-producing Plant To Other Plants In Various Environmental Conditions.
THE ABILITY TO COMPETE OF ALLELOPATHY-PRODUCING PLANT TO
OTHER PLANTS IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Uum Umiyati,
ABSTRACT
The experiment was aimed to identify the effect of allelopathy-producing plant
in competing chemically to other plants in various environmental conditions.
The experiment was done at a screen house with factorial randomized block
design with three replication; the experiment used two genotypes of legume plants (t)
(Vigna radiate L cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens), two orders of soil (a) (Inseptisol
and vertisol) and three water conditions (k) (30%, 60%, 90%). The result of observation
was analyzed using F-test, if there was difference between treatments, it would be
followed by Duncan test at level 5%.
The ability of plant to interact chemically by producing allechemistry was
among other things influenced by the plant type. The difference in environmental
condition (soil order and water condition) caused allelochemistry effect from both
legume plants to be different. The allelopathy-producing plants (Vigna radiate L cultivar
Sriti and Mucuna pruriens) which were chemically competed, influence directly the
growth (root length and dry weight) of cucumber plant and indirectly the organic N
content of plant, in which the influence level to various soil order and water condition
showed difference.
Keywords: Allelopathy-producing plant, competing ability, allelochemistry, soil order,
water condition and organic N content.
Introduction
There were several good allelopathy-producing type of plants from legume
plants and several higher-level plants such as Accasia sp, Albazia lebbeck, and from
weeds such as wide leaf weed, grass and sedge.
The allelopathy-producing legume plants were of the type Vigna radiata,Vigna
unguiculata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Mucuna pruriens. While the allelopathy-producing
gramineous plant were of the type Oryza sativa, Triticum sativum, Zea mays, Sorghum
bicolor (Chou, 1986), but among those plants, we have not been able to identify to what
extent its significance toward other plants or weeds.
The allelochemistry produced by green bean (Vigna radiata L) could directly or
indirectly hamper or accelerate the growth and development of other organisms. The
allelochemistry acted selectively, that is influencing certain type of organism but not
toward other organism (Weston, 1996).
Micuna plant had the ability to produce allelopathy compound which could
affect other plants near it and it could decrease nematodes underground. The chemical
compounds produced by Mucuna include L-Dopa, where it could prevent the growth of
wide leaf weed and grass-type weed (Camaal-Maldonado et al., 2001).
Competition was one of the typical relationships between certain plant species to
another species. The two plants would be negatively influenced because of the
relationship. Weed could compete with horticultural plant by producing inhibitor
substance, becoming pest, wasting underground water and nutrient resource. Therefore
the existence of weed in crop system should be controlled to prevent the disruption of
plant growth and over-competition between plant and weed.
Rao (2000) explained that the intensity of competition between weed and
horticultural plant depended on (1) the ability of plant to compete, (2) the species of
weed and plant, (3) the length of weed intrusion, and (4) the climate condition which
influenced the growth of weed and plant.
Vigna and Micuna consisted of several new cultivars or genotypes having
various growth characteristics such as …, endurance against water and nutrient stress,
endurance toward weed and disease and so forth. In agriculture ecosystem, the
difference in the plant abilities caused difference in competing ability physically or
chemically.
The difference in plant ability to compete chemically was caused by the
difference in the growth and development phase, the content of organic matters in plant
such as carbohydrate and protein, those differences made variations in producing
allelopathy.
The existence of allelopathy could decrease or increase the productivity of soil
that depended on the formation of allelopathy (plant or weed), target organism and its
activities. Therefore, a research was needed to identify the ability of legume plant to
compete with other plants in various condition of restricted abiotic environment.
The purpose of the research was to identify the extent of plant producing
allelochemistry in competing with other plants.
Research Materials and Method
Materials and equipment for experiment
The experiment was done in pots arranged in screen house, from December
2007 to February 2008. The research used 3 factors, which were 2 types of legume plant
(t) Vigna radiate L cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens), two orders of soil (a) (Inseptisol
and vertisol) and three water conditions (k) (30%, 60%, 90%). The research method
used was group randomized design with factorial replicated three times. The data was
then analyzed using analysis of variance (anova), if F calculated > F table at 5% level
then the test would be followed by Duncan multiple range test at 5% level.
Result and Discussion
The different effects produced by the two species of legume plants used toward
cucumber plant showed that, each species of plant have the ability to produce inhibitor
substance or allelochemistry in various amount and type and with specific effect toward
certain plant (Dakshini et al., 1999).
The stressing by Vigna radiata cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens was caused
by secondary metabolite compound as seen by the inhibiting effect on growth from
seeding to the decrease of acceleration of acceptor plant to the change in domination on
ecosystem. Foy (1999) stated that the influence from competition was characterized by
not influencing the growth process but on the growth and harvest, and the density of
plants competing was increased.
The Root Length of Cucumber
Based on Table 2, the root length of cucumber at 14 DAP did not showed any
interaction and there was no significant difference among treatments. According to
Einhellig (1999), the ability of plant to interact chemically to produce allelochemistry
was influenced, among other things, by the age of the plant. Therefore at 14 DAP, Vigna
radiata plant or Mucuna produced toxic substance (allelochemistry) emitted through the
root exudates was at low concentration that its inhibiting effect toward the growth of
cucumber root was also low.
Table 2. The effect of two legume plant Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward the root length of cucumber
(Cm) at 14 DAP.
No
1
2
Treatment
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
root length (Cm)
9,77 a
8,60 a
soil order
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
8, 88 a
4
a2 (Vertisol)
9, 49 a
water condition
5
k1 (90 %)
10,25 a
6
k2 (60 %)
7,77 a
7
k3 (30 %)
9,54 a
Note: Numbers followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level
based on Duncan’s test.
In Table 3, it was seen that the water condition remained the same but at
different soil order, the effect of allelochemistry from both legume plants would be
different. Chou (1986) explained that soils with good drainage, was a good environment
for the growth of soil microorganisms that would provide nutrients for plants, causing
the amount of phytotoxicity of plant to be low so it would not inhibit the growth of root
of other plants.
Table 3. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata and Mucuna) at different soil
orders (a) and water conditions (k) toward the length of cucumber root (Cm)
at 28 DAP
28 HST
water
legume plants
conditions
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
…...Cm…….
k1 (90)
20,75 a
A
15,05 b
B
k2 (60)
10, 95 c
A
13, 50 bc
B
k3 (30)
9,10 c
A
10,70 d
A
k1 (90)
13, 60 b
A
19, 25 a
A
k2 (60)
11, 00 c
A
11.60 cd
A
k3 (30)
9,25 c
B
9, 5 0 d
B
Note: The interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
Varnam (2000) stated that the presence of allelopathy from root exudates of
green bean plant and Mucuna in Vertisol soil cause the available nitrogen source (NH4+)
to be attracted to organic acid at rhizosphere and to be immobile out of rhizosphere. The
available nitrogen out of rhizosphere in the form of NO2- would easily be lost due to
evaporation and toxic to the root of cucumber plant that the plant root would be low.
The root length of two legume plant (Vigna radiata and Mucuna pruriens)
Table 4 showed that there was no interaction between the three factors tested. The root
length of green bean and Mucuna at 14 DAP and 28 DAP showed difference. This was
caused by the difference in morphology and physiology of both plant, but the difference
in condition did not have significant effect toward Vigna radiata or Mucuna, indicating
that Vigna radiata and Mucuna was a plant with highly adaptive plant, the condition
could be one of the characteristics of plant’s ability to physically and chemically
compete with other plants.
Until water condition of 30% at various soil types, the root length of Vigna
radiata plant and Mucuna could actively grow long, to reach water sources in deep soil.
According to Itoh et al. (1987) stated that the root extension which was still active in
stressful water condition was related with the ability of plant in maintaining the
turgidity of root cells which actively grow. The condition showed that both of legume
plant was highly efficient plants which were able to compete by benefiting water stress
condition.
Table 4. Root length (cm) of two legume plants (Vigna radiata and Mucuna) at different
Soil order (a) and water condition at 14 and 28 DAP
No
Treatment
Root length (Cm)
Root length (Cm)
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
1
2
14 HST
28 HST
9,34 a
18,02 b
14, 06 a
23, 61 b
13, 77 a
13, 59 a
16, 37 a
21, 30 a
16, 66 a
15, 54 a
11, 84 a
22, 75 a
17, 85 a
15, 90 a
Soil order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
water condition
5
6
7
k1 (90 %)
k2 (60 %)
k3 (30 %)
Note: Numbers followed by same letters did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test
The presence of cucumber as an indicator plant did not give significant effect
toward the root growth of green bean or Mucuna. According to Chou (1999), this was
indicating a characteristic of allelochemistry effect of Vigna radiata or Mucuna that
would cause population domination of green bean or Mucuna on a land.
Dry weight of Cucumber plant
The observation on dry weight of cucumber did not show any significant effect
between treatments at age 14 DAP, because Vigna radiata or Mucuna pruriens
competed at early age that the effect of allelochemistry given was at very low
concentration that the effect toward the growth of indicator plant was low. The
observation on dry weight of indicator plant at age 28 DAP started to show interactions
between treatments. The range of water availability for plant was influenced by texture
and organic matter content of soil. Vertisol soil had a clayish texture, poor drainage and
aeration and average to high nutrients. Inseptisol soil had a loamy texture, good
drainage and aeration but low nutrients cause it had been swept (Suyanto, 1993).
Table 5. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)) at different
soil order (a) and water condition toward dry weight of cucumber (Gram) at
14 DAP
dry weight of cucumber
No
1
2
Treatment
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
(gram)
0, 56 a
0, 44 a
soil order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
0, 48 a
0, 51 a
water condition
5
6
k1 (90 %)
k2 (60 %)
0, 53 a
0, 54 a
7
k3 (30 %)
0, 43 a
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level.
The condition cause Mucuna which was plant alongside cucumber to have
competition in absorbing water and nutrients causing Mucuna to emit secondary
metabolite to inhibit the growth of cucumber plant by inhibiting the process of root
splitting (pembelahan akar) that the root of the plant could not absorb water and nutrient
to places far from the root zone. This had caused water and nutrient suply to higher part
to be interrupted, disturbing the process of photosynthesis that the accumulation of dry
matters to decrease. The condition could be seen at treatment a2k2t2 (0, 88 g).
The secondary metabolite or allelochemistry produced by Mucuna was L-DOPA
to inhibit protein synthesis and photosynthesis, causing the dry weight of cucumber to
be low and chlorosis at old leaf.
Table 6. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward dry weight of cucumber (Gram)
at 28 DAP
28 HST
water
soil order
condition
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
…...Cm…….
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
k1 (90)
1, 99 c
B
2, 33 c
A
k2 (60)
2, 28 b
A
1, 10 d
B
k3 (30)
0, 91 a
B
2, 78 b
A
k1 (90)
1, 23 e
B
2, 48 c
A
k2 (60)
2, 77 a
B
3, 26 a
A
k3 (30)
1, 62 d
0, 88 e
A
B
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
Dry weight of Green bean and Mucuna pruriens
Dry weight of Mucuna pruriens and Vigna radiata plant was significantly
different at 14 DAP. This was caused by the age of the plant was still at vegetative
phase, where at the phase, the water condition and type of soil should not have any
significant effect toward the dry weight of the plant.
The condition was only influenced by the characteristics of both plants which
differ to one another, such as the difference in the kernel size. Hale and Orcutt (1987)
said that the plant’s characteristics such as the kernel size, the speed of germination, the
size of leaf and rooting was the characteristics that would determine the ability of a
plant to compete. Those characteristics would identify the efficiency and ability to
compete of Vigna radiata and Mucuna in benefiting the limiting factors of environment.
Table 7. Dry Weight (Gram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2) at different soil order
(a) and water condition (k) at 14 DAP.
No
Treatment
Dry weight (gram)
1
2
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
Soil Ordo
0, 53 a
2, 22 b
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
1, 49 a
4
a2 (Vertisol)
1, 25 a
5
Water Condinitation
k1 (90 %)
1, 37 a
6
k2 (60 %)
1, 89 a
7
k3 (30 %)
0, 86 a
Note: values followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test.
The more mature a plant, the need of water and nutrients would increase. The
plant’s response to the availability of underground water had specific characteristics that
depended on growth phase, the plant’s characteristics and was influenced by the size of
reproductive container or kernel. The plant would be more sensitive toward the
availability of underground water at reproductive phase compared to vegetative phase
(Yusnaeni et al., 1999).
The Mucuna plant at 28 DAP (table 8) showed the highest dry weight at soil
type of Inseptisol and water condition at 60% (a1k2t2). This showed that Mucuna was
very adaptive to humid soil of loamy type, with a good drainage and aeration in a soil
pH of 5, 6. This condition was most appropriate to the development of Mucuna’s root in
absorbing water and nutrients to be used for the growth of stem and leaf, causing the
plant’s dry weight to be high (Webber et al., 1997).
It was another way around for green bean which showed high dry weight in
vertisol and water condition of 60% (a1k2t1) which was 2.64 grams. The condition
indicated that Vigna radiata did not need too much water, because it would have a
negative effect toward vegetative growth of green bean.
The growth variety of green bean and Mucuna tested showed the ability of each
plant species in benefiting the limiting factor of environment and in dominating the
growth environment.
Table 8. Dry weight (Gram) of Vigna radiata (t 1) and Mucuna (t2) plant at different soil
order (a) and water condition (k) at 28 DAP
water condition
Legum Plants
soil order
k1 (90)
1, 78 c
A
k2 (60)
…...Cm…….
1, 23 d
B
k3 (30)
1, 62 c
A
Vigna radiata (t1)
Inseptisol (a1)
1, 57 c
B
5, 58 a
2, .64 b
A
8, 67 d
1, 69 c
B
4, 11 a
Mucuna (t2)
Vertisol (a2)
B
3, 87 b
A
A
1, 60 c
B
C
3, 62 b
A
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at
5% level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters
should be read horizontally.
According to Taylor (2002), in a small community, allelochemistry interaction
produced by a plant could be a regulating dominating factor, so that green bean and
Mucuna had the ability to interact chemically by having allelochemistry content of Cglycosyl flavonoid (green bean) and L-DOPA (Mucuna) to reduce the vegetative growth
of cucumber plant.
N-organic Content of Cucumber Plant
At table 9, it could be seen that N organic in cucumber at 14 DAP was not
influenced by the existence of allelopathy plant (allelopathy producer). This was
because 14 DAP was a good initial phase of vegetative for Vigna radiata, Mucuna and
also cucumber that the chemistry competition in absorbing nitrogen could not be seen
yet. The view was in accordance with Eussen (1980) which stated that the amount of
nitrogen absorbed by plant depend on age, species, density and the type of soil used.
The different type of soil would give different effects toward the nutrient
content, pH and microorganism activities, so that the plant response toward nutrient
would also be different and influenced the percentage of nutrient in plant.
Inseptisol soil had a good aeration and drainage that the microorganism activity
was better compared to Vertisol soil and the availability of nutrient for plant would also
be higher.
Table 9. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) Cucumber N-organic content (mgram) of
cucumber at 14 DAP
Cucumber N-organic
No
Treatment
content
(mgram)
1
2
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
15, 97 a
18, 94 a
soil order
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
23, 19 b
4
a2 (Vertisol)
11, 72 a
water condition
5
k1 (90 %)
20, 29 a
6
k2 (60 %)
16, 06 a
7
k3 (30 %)
16, 01 a
Note: values followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level
based on Duncan’s test.
According to Robertson and Vitousek (1981), the chemical interaction between
Vigna radiata or Mucuna with cucumber had made nitrogen to be unavailable for
cucumber because the inhibition of nitrification process by inhibiting bacterial activity
of nitrosomonas which provide nitrogen. Therefore the dry weight and N-organic
content of cucumber was low.
At 28 DAP, the content of N-organic of cucumber did not show significant
difference between treatments a2k3t2, a1k3t1 and a2k3t1. According to Yang et al. (2004),
this showed that water condition, soil texture and plant species producing allelopathy
had an influence on N content on indicator plant’s tissue.
Table 10. the effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward N-organic content (mGram) at
28 DAP
28 HST
legume plants
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
water condition
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
……gram…….
k1 (90)
20, 45 f
B
35, 51 c
A
k2 (60)
40, 40 c
A
43, 71 b
A
k3 (30)
25, 74 e
B
25, 84 e
A
k1 (90)
63, 51 a
A
45, 58 b
B
k2 (60)
51, 13 b
A
62, 44 a
A
k3 (30)
34, 21 d
B
14, 80 e
B
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
The insufficient water condition along with Inseptisol or Vertisol made nutrient’s
solubility to be low. According to Handayanto et al. (2007), the fact cause a chemical
interaction by releasing allelopathy through exudate of the root of Vigna radiata or
Mucuna to the rhizosphere area to inhibit the process of oxidation of NH4+ to be NO3-.
NH4+ was join by carboxylic acid secreted by green bean and Mucuna so that it could
not move out of rhizosphere area of the root of Vigna radiata and Mucuna, the nitrogen
element outside of rhizosphere in the form of NO2- was easily evaporate that it could not
be benefited by the root of cucumber plant.
N-organic Content of Vigna radiata and Mucuna Pruriens
The difference in soil order and water content did not show any effect toward the
N-organic content of Vigna radiata and Mucuna at 14 DAP (Table 10). This was because
between green bean and Mucuna had different characteristics, especially the size of
product storage or the size of kernel. The condition caused Mucuna at early vegetative
phase to have a lot of N-organic stored in its tissue. This view was supported by Holzner
and Numata (1982) that the protein content stored in kernel was in great quantities
showing the ability of plant to compete that in the beginning of its growth, the plant
could meet the nutrient demand of its own.
According to Dixon and Whiller (1983), the contribution of environment to the
difference in plant population was influenced by the variation of source and the use of
nitrogen by the plant and variation in pH. pH had an effect on the activity of soil
microorganisms. Sarief (1989) stated that soil with pH neutral would support the growth
of microorganisms.
Table 11. N-organic content (mGram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)
No
Perlakuan
N-organic content
(mgram)
1
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
22, 83 a
2
t2 (Mucuna)
63, 79 b
Soil Order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
48, 93 a
37, 68 a
Water Condition
5
k1 (90 %)
35, 06 a
6
7
k2 (60 %)
k3 (30 %)
57, 46 a
37, 41 a
Note: numbers followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test.
But, at pH less than 5.5, the growth of microorganism would be hampered. The
range of pH of soil used in the second experiment was 5.6 for Inseptisol and 6.8 for
Vertisol soil, so that the N-organic content between green bean and Mucuna in both land
showed differences.
The difference in nitrogen usage caused variation in nitrogen content at plant
tissue of Vigna radiata or Mucuna or cucumber. Dixon and Whiller (1983) said that the
available source of nitrogen was not benefited by cucumber because of the chemical
competition between Vigna radiata or Mucuna and cucumber, so that green bean or
Mucuna would secrete allelochemistry through root exudates in the form of C-glycocyl
flavonoid or L-DOPA into the soil causing a decrease of pH of rhizosphere on the root
of Vigna radiata or Mucuna. This inhibited the root growth of cucumber and inhibited he
nitrification by bacteria so that the nitrogen supply in the area of non-rhizosphere to be
low and thus the nitrogen stored in its tissue.
In addition, allelopathy secreted through root exudates of Vigna radiata in the form
of HCN inhibit the protein synthesis as indicated by the inhibition of root length so that
the absorption of nutrient especially nitrogen to be inhibited, causing dry weight of
plant and N-organic content of cucumber to be low and cucumber leaves were having
chlorosis (Einhellig, 2004).
Table 12. The content of N-organic (mGram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2) at
different soil order (a) and water condition (k) at 28 DAP
soil order
water condition Vigna
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
28 HST
radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
……gram…….
k1 (90)
39, 36 b
B
134, 28 b
A
k2 (60)
43, 84 b
B
142, 05 e
A
k3 (30)
37, 47 b
A
12, 49 a
B
k1 (90)
74, 35 a
A
116, 88 b
A
k2 (60)
77, 44 a
A
85, 39 c
A
k3 (30)
52, 77 b
B
85, 68 c
A
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
The opinion was supported by Orcutt (2000), that allelochemistry secreted by
plant species could affect the nutrition cycles in an ecosystem to finally influence the
diversity of population in the ecosystem.
Conclusion
The ability of green bean (Vigna radiata) cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens
(karo bendo) to interact chemically in a shortage of growth factor condition to secrete
C-glykosil flavonoid (Vigna radiata) and L-DOPA (Mucuna pruriens) directly influenced
the growth of plant and indirectly influenced the availability of nitrogen in soil.
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OTHER PLANTS IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Uum Umiyati,
ABSTRACT
The experiment was aimed to identify the effect of allelopathy-producing plant
in competing chemically to other plants in various environmental conditions.
The experiment was done at a screen house with factorial randomized block
design with three replication; the experiment used two genotypes of legume plants (t)
(Vigna radiate L cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens), two orders of soil (a) (Inseptisol
and vertisol) and three water conditions (k) (30%, 60%, 90%). The result of observation
was analyzed using F-test, if there was difference between treatments, it would be
followed by Duncan test at level 5%.
The ability of plant to interact chemically by producing allechemistry was
among other things influenced by the plant type. The difference in environmental
condition (soil order and water condition) caused allelochemistry effect from both
legume plants to be different. The allelopathy-producing plants (Vigna radiate L cultivar
Sriti and Mucuna pruriens) which were chemically competed, influence directly the
growth (root length and dry weight) of cucumber plant and indirectly the organic N
content of plant, in which the influence level to various soil order and water condition
showed difference.
Keywords: Allelopathy-producing plant, competing ability, allelochemistry, soil order,
water condition and organic N content.
Introduction
There were several good allelopathy-producing type of plants from legume
plants and several higher-level plants such as Accasia sp, Albazia lebbeck, and from
weeds such as wide leaf weed, grass and sedge.
The allelopathy-producing legume plants were of the type Vigna radiata,Vigna
unguiculata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Mucuna pruriens. While the allelopathy-producing
gramineous plant were of the type Oryza sativa, Triticum sativum, Zea mays, Sorghum
bicolor (Chou, 1986), but among those plants, we have not been able to identify to what
extent its significance toward other plants or weeds.
The allelochemistry produced by green bean (Vigna radiata L) could directly or
indirectly hamper or accelerate the growth and development of other organisms. The
allelochemistry acted selectively, that is influencing certain type of organism but not
toward other organism (Weston, 1996).
Micuna plant had the ability to produce allelopathy compound which could
affect other plants near it and it could decrease nematodes underground. The chemical
compounds produced by Mucuna include L-Dopa, where it could prevent the growth of
wide leaf weed and grass-type weed (Camaal-Maldonado et al., 2001).
Competition was one of the typical relationships between certain plant species to
another species. The two plants would be negatively influenced because of the
relationship. Weed could compete with horticultural plant by producing inhibitor
substance, becoming pest, wasting underground water and nutrient resource. Therefore
the existence of weed in crop system should be controlled to prevent the disruption of
plant growth and over-competition between plant and weed.
Rao (2000) explained that the intensity of competition between weed and
horticultural plant depended on (1) the ability of plant to compete, (2) the species of
weed and plant, (3) the length of weed intrusion, and (4) the climate condition which
influenced the growth of weed and plant.
Vigna and Micuna consisted of several new cultivars or genotypes having
various growth characteristics such as …, endurance against water and nutrient stress,
endurance toward weed and disease and so forth. In agriculture ecosystem, the
difference in the plant abilities caused difference in competing ability physically or
chemically.
The difference in plant ability to compete chemically was caused by the
difference in the growth and development phase, the content of organic matters in plant
such as carbohydrate and protein, those differences made variations in producing
allelopathy.
The existence of allelopathy could decrease or increase the productivity of soil
that depended on the formation of allelopathy (plant or weed), target organism and its
activities. Therefore, a research was needed to identify the ability of legume plant to
compete with other plants in various condition of restricted abiotic environment.
The purpose of the research was to identify the extent of plant producing
allelochemistry in competing with other plants.
Research Materials and Method
Materials and equipment for experiment
The experiment was done in pots arranged in screen house, from December
2007 to February 2008. The research used 3 factors, which were 2 types of legume plant
(t) Vigna radiate L cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens), two orders of soil (a) (Inseptisol
and vertisol) and three water conditions (k) (30%, 60%, 90%). The research method
used was group randomized design with factorial replicated three times. The data was
then analyzed using analysis of variance (anova), if F calculated > F table at 5% level
then the test would be followed by Duncan multiple range test at 5% level.
Result and Discussion
The different effects produced by the two species of legume plants used toward
cucumber plant showed that, each species of plant have the ability to produce inhibitor
substance or allelochemistry in various amount and type and with specific effect toward
certain plant (Dakshini et al., 1999).
The stressing by Vigna radiata cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens was caused
by secondary metabolite compound as seen by the inhibiting effect on growth from
seeding to the decrease of acceleration of acceptor plant to the change in domination on
ecosystem. Foy (1999) stated that the influence from competition was characterized by
not influencing the growth process but on the growth and harvest, and the density of
plants competing was increased.
The Root Length of Cucumber
Based on Table 2, the root length of cucumber at 14 DAP did not showed any
interaction and there was no significant difference among treatments. According to
Einhellig (1999), the ability of plant to interact chemically to produce allelochemistry
was influenced, among other things, by the age of the plant. Therefore at 14 DAP, Vigna
radiata plant or Mucuna produced toxic substance (allelochemistry) emitted through the
root exudates was at low concentration that its inhibiting effect toward the growth of
cucumber root was also low.
Table 2. The effect of two legume plant Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward the root length of cucumber
(Cm) at 14 DAP.
No
1
2
Treatment
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
root length (Cm)
9,77 a
8,60 a
soil order
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
8, 88 a
4
a2 (Vertisol)
9, 49 a
water condition
5
k1 (90 %)
10,25 a
6
k2 (60 %)
7,77 a
7
k3 (30 %)
9,54 a
Note: Numbers followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level
based on Duncan’s test.
In Table 3, it was seen that the water condition remained the same but at
different soil order, the effect of allelochemistry from both legume plants would be
different. Chou (1986) explained that soils with good drainage, was a good environment
for the growth of soil microorganisms that would provide nutrients for plants, causing
the amount of phytotoxicity of plant to be low so it would not inhibit the growth of root
of other plants.
Table 3. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata and Mucuna) at different soil
orders (a) and water conditions (k) toward the length of cucumber root (Cm)
at 28 DAP
28 HST
water
legume plants
conditions
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
…...Cm…….
k1 (90)
20,75 a
A
15,05 b
B
k2 (60)
10, 95 c
A
13, 50 bc
B
k3 (30)
9,10 c
A
10,70 d
A
k1 (90)
13, 60 b
A
19, 25 a
A
k2 (60)
11, 00 c
A
11.60 cd
A
k3 (30)
9,25 c
B
9, 5 0 d
B
Note: The interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
Varnam (2000) stated that the presence of allelopathy from root exudates of
green bean plant and Mucuna in Vertisol soil cause the available nitrogen source (NH4+)
to be attracted to organic acid at rhizosphere and to be immobile out of rhizosphere. The
available nitrogen out of rhizosphere in the form of NO2- would easily be lost due to
evaporation and toxic to the root of cucumber plant that the plant root would be low.
The root length of two legume plant (Vigna radiata and Mucuna pruriens)
Table 4 showed that there was no interaction between the three factors tested. The root
length of green bean and Mucuna at 14 DAP and 28 DAP showed difference. This was
caused by the difference in morphology and physiology of both plant, but the difference
in condition did not have significant effect toward Vigna radiata or Mucuna, indicating
that Vigna radiata and Mucuna was a plant with highly adaptive plant, the condition
could be one of the characteristics of plant’s ability to physically and chemically
compete with other plants.
Until water condition of 30% at various soil types, the root length of Vigna
radiata plant and Mucuna could actively grow long, to reach water sources in deep soil.
According to Itoh et al. (1987) stated that the root extension which was still active in
stressful water condition was related with the ability of plant in maintaining the
turgidity of root cells which actively grow. The condition showed that both of legume
plant was highly efficient plants which were able to compete by benefiting water stress
condition.
Table 4. Root length (cm) of two legume plants (Vigna radiata and Mucuna) at different
Soil order (a) and water condition at 14 and 28 DAP
No
Treatment
Root length (Cm)
Root length (Cm)
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
1
2
14 HST
28 HST
9,34 a
18,02 b
14, 06 a
23, 61 b
13, 77 a
13, 59 a
16, 37 a
21, 30 a
16, 66 a
15, 54 a
11, 84 a
22, 75 a
17, 85 a
15, 90 a
Soil order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
water condition
5
6
7
k1 (90 %)
k2 (60 %)
k3 (30 %)
Note: Numbers followed by same letters did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test
The presence of cucumber as an indicator plant did not give significant effect
toward the root growth of green bean or Mucuna. According to Chou (1999), this was
indicating a characteristic of allelochemistry effect of Vigna radiata or Mucuna that
would cause population domination of green bean or Mucuna on a land.
Dry weight of Cucumber plant
The observation on dry weight of cucumber did not show any significant effect
between treatments at age 14 DAP, because Vigna radiata or Mucuna pruriens
competed at early age that the effect of allelochemistry given was at very low
concentration that the effect toward the growth of indicator plant was low. The
observation on dry weight of indicator plant at age 28 DAP started to show interactions
between treatments. The range of water availability for plant was influenced by texture
and organic matter content of soil. Vertisol soil had a clayish texture, poor drainage and
aeration and average to high nutrients. Inseptisol soil had a loamy texture, good
drainage and aeration but low nutrients cause it had been swept (Suyanto, 1993).
Table 5. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)) at different
soil order (a) and water condition toward dry weight of cucumber (Gram) at
14 DAP
dry weight of cucumber
No
1
2
Treatment
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
(gram)
0, 56 a
0, 44 a
soil order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
0, 48 a
0, 51 a
water condition
5
6
k1 (90 %)
k2 (60 %)
0, 53 a
0, 54 a
7
k3 (30 %)
0, 43 a
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level.
The condition cause Mucuna which was plant alongside cucumber to have
competition in absorbing water and nutrients causing Mucuna to emit secondary
metabolite to inhibit the growth of cucumber plant by inhibiting the process of root
splitting (pembelahan akar) that the root of the plant could not absorb water and nutrient
to places far from the root zone. This had caused water and nutrient suply to higher part
to be interrupted, disturbing the process of photosynthesis that the accumulation of dry
matters to decrease. The condition could be seen at treatment a2k2t2 (0, 88 g).
The secondary metabolite or allelochemistry produced by Mucuna was L-DOPA
to inhibit protein synthesis and photosynthesis, causing the dry weight of cucumber to
be low and chlorosis at old leaf.
Table 6. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward dry weight of cucumber (Gram)
at 28 DAP
28 HST
water
soil order
condition
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
…...Cm…….
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
k1 (90)
1, 99 c
B
2, 33 c
A
k2 (60)
2, 28 b
A
1, 10 d
B
k3 (30)
0, 91 a
B
2, 78 b
A
k1 (90)
1, 23 e
B
2, 48 c
A
k2 (60)
2, 77 a
B
3, 26 a
A
k3 (30)
1, 62 d
0, 88 e
A
B
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
Dry weight of Green bean and Mucuna pruriens
Dry weight of Mucuna pruriens and Vigna radiata plant was significantly
different at 14 DAP. This was caused by the age of the plant was still at vegetative
phase, where at the phase, the water condition and type of soil should not have any
significant effect toward the dry weight of the plant.
The condition was only influenced by the characteristics of both plants which
differ to one another, such as the difference in the kernel size. Hale and Orcutt (1987)
said that the plant’s characteristics such as the kernel size, the speed of germination, the
size of leaf and rooting was the characteristics that would determine the ability of a
plant to compete. Those characteristics would identify the efficiency and ability to
compete of Vigna radiata and Mucuna in benefiting the limiting factors of environment.
Table 7. Dry Weight (Gram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2) at different soil order
(a) and water condition (k) at 14 DAP.
No
Treatment
Dry weight (gram)
1
2
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
Soil Ordo
0, 53 a
2, 22 b
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
1, 49 a
4
a2 (Vertisol)
1, 25 a
5
Water Condinitation
k1 (90 %)
1, 37 a
6
k2 (60 %)
1, 89 a
7
k3 (30 %)
0, 86 a
Note: values followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test.
The more mature a plant, the need of water and nutrients would increase. The
plant’s response to the availability of underground water had specific characteristics that
depended on growth phase, the plant’s characteristics and was influenced by the size of
reproductive container or kernel. The plant would be more sensitive toward the
availability of underground water at reproductive phase compared to vegetative phase
(Yusnaeni et al., 1999).
The Mucuna plant at 28 DAP (table 8) showed the highest dry weight at soil
type of Inseptisol and water condition at 60% (a1k2t2). This showed that Mucuna was
very adaptive to humid soil of loamy type, with a good drainage and aeration in a soil
pH of 5, 6. This condition was most appropriate to the development of Mucuna’s root in
absorbing water and nutrients to be used for the growth of stem and leaf, causing the
plant’s dry weight to be high (Webber et al., 1997).
It was another way around for green bean which showed high dry weight in
vertisol and water condition of 60% (a1k2t1) which was 2.64 grams. The condition
indicated that Vigna radiata did not need too much water, because it would have a
negative effect toward vegetative growth of green bean.
The growth variety of green bean and Mucuna tested showed the ability of each
plant species in benefiting the limiting factor of environment and in dominating the
growth environment.
Table 8. Dry weight (Gram) of Vigna radiata (t 1) and Mucuna (t2) plant at different soil
order (a) and water condition (k) at 28 DAP
water condition
Legum Plants
soil order
k1 (90)
1, 78 c
A
k2 (60)
…...Cm…….
1, 23 d
B
k3 (30)
1, 62 c
A
Vigna radiata (t1)
Inseptisol (a1)
1, 57 c
B
5, 58 a
2, .64 b
A
8, 67 d
1, 69 c
B
4, 11 a
Mucuna (t2)
Vertisol (a2)
B
3, 87 b
A
A
1, 60 c
B
C
3, 62 b
A
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at
5% level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters
should be read horizontally.
According to Taylor (2002), in a small community, allelochemistry interaction
produced by a plant could be a regulating dominating factor, so that green bean and
Mucuna had the ability to interact chemically by having allelochemistry content of Cglycosyl flavonoid (green bean) and L-DOPA (Mucuna) to reduce the vegetative growth
of cucumber plant.
N-organic Content of Cucumber Plant
At table 9, it could be seen that N organic in cucumber at 14 DAP was not
influenced by the existence of allelopathy plant (allelopathy producer). This was
because 14 DAP was a good initial phase of vegetative for Vigna radiata, Mucuna and
also cucumber that the chemistry competition in absorbing nitrogen could not be seen
yet. The view was in accordance with Eussen (1980) which stated that the amount of
nitrogen absorbed by plant depend on age, species, density and the type of soil used.
The different type of soil would give different effects toward the nutrient
content, pH and microorganism activities, so that the plant response toward nutrient
would also be different and influenced the percentage of nutrient in plant.
Inseptisol soil had a good aeration and drainage that the microorganism activity
was better compared to Vertisol soil and the availability of nutrient for plant would also
be higher.
Table 9. The effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) Cucumber N-organic content (mgram) of
cucumber at 14 DAP
Cucumber N-organic
No
Treatment
content
(mgram)
1
2
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
t2 (Mucuna)
15, 97 a
18, 94 a
soil order
3
a1 (Inseptisol)
23, 19 b
4
a2 (Vertisol)
11, 72 a
water condition
5
k1 (90 %)
20, 29 a
6
k2 (60 %)
16, 06 a
7
k3 (30 %)
16, 01 a
Note: values followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level
based on Duncan’s test.
According to Robertson and Vitousek (1981), the chemical interaction between
Vigna radiata or Mucuna with cucumber had made nitrogen to be unavailable for
cucumber because the inhibition of nitrification process by inhibiting bacterial activity
of nitrosomonas which provide nitrogen. Therefore the dry weight and N-organic
content of cucumber was low.
At 28 DAP, the content of N-organic of cucumber did not show significant
difference between treatments a2k3t2, a1k3t1 and a2k3t1. According to Yang et al. (2004),
this showed that water condition, soil texture and plant species producing allelopathy
had an influence on N content on indicator plant’s tissue.
Table 10. the effect of two legume plants Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)] at different
soil order (a) and water condition (k) toward N-organic content (mGram) at
28 DAP
28 HST
legume plants
Vigna radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
water condition
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
……gram…….
k1 (90)
20, 45 f
B
35, 51 c
A
k2 (60)
40, 40 c
A
43, 71 b
A
k3 (30)
25, 74 e
B
25, 84 e
A
k1 (90)
63, 51 a
A
45, 58 b
B
k2 (60)
51, 13 b
A
62, 44 a
A
k3 (30)
34, 21 d
B
14, 80 e
B
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
The insufficient water condition along with Inseptisol or Vertisol made nutrient’s
solubility to be low. According to Handayanto et al. (2007), the fact cause a chemical
interaction by releasing allelopathy through exudate of the root of Vigna radiata or
Mucuna to the rhizosphere area to inhibit the process of oxidation of NH4+ to be NO3-.
NH4+ was join by carboxylic acid secreted by green bean and Mucuna so that it could
not move out of rhizosphere area of the root of Vigna radiata and Mucuna, the nitrogen
element outside of rhizosphere in the form of NO2- was easily evaporate that it could not
be benefited by the root of cucumber plant.
N-organic Content of Vigna radiata and Mucuna Pruriens
The difference in soil order and water content did not show any effect toward the
N-organic content of Vigna radiata and Mucuna at 14 DAP (Table 10). This was because
between green bean and Mucuna had different characteristics, especially the size of
product storage or the size of kernel. The condition caused Mucuna at early vegetative
phase to have a lot of N-organic stored in its tissue. This view was supported by Holzner
and Numata (1982) that the protein content stored in kernel was in great quantities
showing the ability of plant to compete that in the beginning of its growth, the plant
could meet the nutrient demand of its own.
According to Dixon and Whiller (1983), the contribution of environment to the
difference in plant population was influenced by the variation of source and the use of
nitrogen by the plant and variation in pH. pH had an effect on the activity of soil
microorganisms. Sarief (1989) stated that soil with pH neutral would support the growth
of microorganisms.
Table 11. N-organic content (mGram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2)
No
Perlakuan
N-organic content
(mgram)
1
Legum
t1 (Vigna radiata)
22, 83 a
2
t2 (Mucuna)
63, 79 b
Soil Order
3
4
a1 (Inseptisol)
a2 (Vertisol)
48, 93 a
37, 68 a
Water Condition
5
k1 (90 %)
35, 06 a
6
7
k2 (60 %)
k3 (30 %)
57, 46 a
37, 41 a
Note: numbers followed by the same letter did not significantly differ at 5% level based
on Duncan’s test.
But, at pH less than 5.5, the growth of microorganism would be hampered. The
range of pH of soil used in the second experiment was 5.6 for Inseptisol and 6.8 for
Vertisol soil, so that the N-organic content between green bean and Mucuna in both land
showed differences.
The difference in nitrogen usage caused variation in nitrogen content at plant
tissue of Vigna radiata or Mucuna or cucumber. Dixon and Whiller (1983) said that the
available source of nitrogen was not benefited by cucumber because of the chemical
competition between Vigna radiata or Mucuna and cucumber, so that green bean or
Mucuna would secrete allelochemistry through root exudates in the form of C-glycocyl
flavonoid or L-DOPA into the soil causing a decrease of pH of rhizosphere on the root
of Vigna radiata or Mucuna. This inhibited the root growth of cucumber and inhibited he
nitrification by bacteria so that the nitrogen supply in the area of non-rhizosphere to be
low and thus the nitrogen stored in its tissue.
In addition, allelopathy secreted through root exudates of Vigna radiata in the form
of HCN inhibit the protein synthesis as indicated by the inhibition of root length so that
the absorption of nutrient especially nitrogen to be inhibited, causing dry weight of
plant and N-organic content of cucumber to be low and cucumber leaves were having
chlorosis (Einhellig, 2004).
Table 12. The content of N-organic (mGram) of Vigna radiata (t1) and Mucuna (t2) at
different soil order (a) and water condition (k) at 28 DAP
soil order
water condition Vigna
Inseptisol (a1)
Vertisol (a2)
28 HST
radiata (t1)
Mucuna (t2)
……gram…….
k1 (90)
39, 36 b
B
134, 28 b
A
k2 (60)
43, 84 b
B
142, 05 e
A
k3 (30)
37, 47 b
A
12, 49 a
B
k1 (90)
74, 35 a
A
116, 88 b
A
k2 (60)
77, 44 a
A
85, 39 c
A
k3 (30)
52, 77 b
B
85, 68 c
A
Note: the interaction between t × k × a was significantly tested. Numbers followed by
the same letter was not significantly different according to Duncan’s test at 5%
level. The capital letters should be read vertically and the small letters should be
read horizontally.
The opinion was supported by Orcutt (2000), that allelochemistry secreted by
plant species could affect the nutrition cycles in an ecosystem to finally influence the
diversity of population in the ecosystem.
Conclusion
The ability of green bean (Vigna radiata) cultivar Sriti and Mucuna pruriens
(karo bendo) to interact chemically in a shortage of growth factor condition to secrete
C-glykosil flavonoid (Vigna radiata) and L-DOPA (Mucuna pruriens) directly influenced
the growth of plant and indirectly influenced the availability of nitrogen in soil.
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