Aqueous seed extracts of Jimson weed (Datura stramonium L.) stimulate morpho-agronomic attributes in selected soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] varieties

Datura stramonium (L.) contains allelochemicals capable of affecting agro-morphological traits in plants. Thus, field experiment was carried out at Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, Minna, Nigeria to examine the effects of different concentrations [25%, 50% and 100% and 0% (control)] of D. stramonium aqueous seed extracts on agro-morphological attributes of two soybean varieties (‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022-4E’), obtained from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan. Dry seeds of the soybean were pre-soaked in the Datura seed extracts for two hours before planting in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates each. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). At maturity, D. stramonium seed extracts significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased plant height (38.37 cm) and length of petiole (2.93 cm) for ‘TG x 2018-5E’ at 100% concentration. Significantly highest plant height (29.20 cm) and number of branches (17.00) were enhanced in ‘TG x 2022-4E’ at 50% concentration. Both ‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022-4E’ leaf areas were significantly highest (23.11 cm2 and 28.41 cm2, respectively) at 100% concentration. Yield attributes such as number of seeds per plant, weight of fresh and dry pods per plant for both ‘TG x 2018-5E’ (3.33, 1.60 and 1.32, respectively) and ‘TG x 2022-4E’ (3.00, 0.60 and 0.26, respectively) were significantly stimulated in 50% concentration while number of pods per plant was significantly highest for ‘TG x 2018-5E’ and ‘TG x 2022- 4E’ (3.33 and 3.00, respectively) in 100% concentration. On these premises higher concentrations (50% and 100%) of D. stramonium seed extracts support better morphological growth and yield characters in soybean varieties.