Potential of Terminalia catappa leaf and imperata cylindrica rhizome extracts as botanical herbicides

Spenochlea zeylanica is the dominant weed in rice fields that can decreasing yields, making their control necessary. Chemical control methods are popular but can leave residues on plants and the environment. Therefore, eco-friendly weed control methods are needed. Allelochemical compounds in Terminalia catappa and Imperata cylindrica extracts are known to have the potential as eco-friendly herbicides. This study aimed to determine the potentiality of T. catappa leaf and I. cylindrica rhizome extracts as botanical herbicides. The study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five treatments and five replications, including T0: control and extracts of T. catappa leaf or I. cylindrica rhizome, namely T1: 10%, T2: 20%, T3: 30%, and T4: 40%. The observed variables were plant height, growth rate, and poisoning percentage. The results showed that extracts of T. catappa leaf and I. cylindrica rhizome have the potential as botanical herbicides. T. catappa leaf extract can reduce the weed height and growth rate of S. zeylanica up to 71.07% and 376.88%, also causing poisoning at 85%. Better results showed that by I. cylindrica rhizome extract reduced the weed height and growth rate of S. zeylanica by 100% and 666.67%, respectively, and poisoned S. zeylanica up to 100%.