Effect Of Aqueous Leaf Extract Of Moringa Oleifera (Lam) On The Germination And Seedlingn Growth Of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogea L.) And Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L.)

ABSTRACT

The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera on the germination and seedling growth of groundnut and cowpea was investigated. Five treatment levels having different concentration of extracts (undiluted, 1:1, 1:2.5, 1.50) and control were used. Both laboratory and field (pot) experiment were conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The control treatment was only distilled water. The result showed that the rate of germination of groundnut decreased with the increase in aqueous extract concentration. The extract stimulated the growth of groundnut at all treatment levels but has no significant effect on its dry weight. The study revealed that aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera inhibited the germination of cowpea and as the concentration of extract increases, it decreases the height and dry weight of the seedlings. This study therefore suggests that allelochemicals released from the leaf part of Moringa oleifera inhibited the germination of groundnut and cowpea while it stimulated the height of groundnut but has no significant effect on its dry weight. It was also observed that the aqueous leaf extract of M. oleifera inhibited the height and dry weight of cowpea. This result therefore suggests that allelochemicals may contribute to the allelopathic effect caused by moringa leaves.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv                                                                                                           

Acknowledgement ﾿ v                                                                                                           

Table of Content ﾿ vi

List of Tables  ﾿ ix  

List of Plates ﾿            x                                                                                          

Abstract ﾿ xi ﾿                  

CHAPTER ONE ﾿        

1.1 ﾿        Introduction ﾿ 1 ﾿        

1.2 ﾿         Botany of Plants ﾿ 8 ﾿         

1.3 ﾿         Justification ﾿ 1

1.4 ﾿   Aim and Objectives ﾿ 10 ﾿         

CHAPTER TWO

2.0         Literature review ﾿ 11 ﾿          

2.1         Inhibition Role of Aqueous Plant Extract on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Plant ﾿                             2.2 ﾿         Stimulatory Role of Aqueous Plant Extract on the Germination and Seedling  Growth of    Plants. ﾿    

CHAPTER THREE ﾿

3.0         Materials and Methods ﾿ 20 ﾿     ﾿         

3.1         Plant Materials ﾿ 20 ﾿         

3.2        Preparations of Aqueous Extracts ﾿ ﾿ 20 ﾿          

3.3        Seed Germination Test (%) ﾿ 21 ﾿         

3.4        Seedling Growth Test ﾿ 22 ﾿        

3.4.1     Plant Height (cm) ﾿ 22

3.4.2     Dry Weight (G) ﾿ 22

3.5        Experimental Design and Statistical Procedure ﾿ 22 ﾿         

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 ﾿       Result ﾿ 23 ﾿         

4.1.1.   Height Growth (cm) ﾿ 23

4.1.2.   Seed Germination (%) ﾿ 25

CHAPTER FIVE ﾿         

5.1     Discussion ﾿ 28 ﾿

5.1.1   Effect of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Moringa Oleifera on the Germination

          Of Groundnut and Cowpea Seed ﾿ 28

5.1.2   Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Moringa Oleifera on the Seedling Growth of 

           Groundnut (Arachis Hypogea) and Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata). ﾿ 29

5.2      Conclusion ﾿ 30

5.3      Recommendation ﾿ 31

           References