African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (6), pp. 685-690, 19 March 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Herbicidal effects of effluent from processed cassava on growth performances of Chromolaena odorata weeds population

A. F. Ogundola and M. O. Liasu

Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adfogundola@yahoo.com

Accepted 24 October, 2006

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of effluent i.e. seepings from processed cassava on growth performance of potted seedlings of Chromlaena odorata (L). Serial  dilutions of effluents processed cassava i.e. 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% (water only) control were made and used to water potted Chromolaena plants for 10 weeks and growth performance i.e. plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, length of central mid rib, leaf area were taken fortnightly interval. Measurement of the weeds stem, root and leaves dry weight was taken at the end of the experiments. The cyanogenic residue from the soil was also analyzed. All growth performance parameters except plant height showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in all dilutions except that of 25% concentration where there was no significant difference. Amount of cyanogenic residue in the soil after the experiment was negligible (within recommended safe level) or 5 mg/kg (USDA) and lower when compared with initial levels in the effluents. Hence cassava effluent is recommended as pre and post emergent herbicide (at seedling stage) for controlling chromolaena infestation on small scale farmland.

Key words:  Cassava effluents, cyanogenic residue.