Effect of pesticides on the Seed Germination of Cenchrus setigerus and Pennisetum pedicellatum as Monocropping and Co-cropping System:

The present research study has been carried out to evaluate the potential use of two grass species Cenchrus setigerus, and Pennisetum pedicellatum as a monocropping and co-cropping system for the rhizospheric bioremediation of pesticides Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate.The effect of the three pesticides on the germination of grass seeds was investigated using pesticide spiked soil at the concentrations 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, while unspiked soil has been taken as control. The heterotrophic microbial numbers were also enumerated in the developing rhizospheric zone and in the bulk soil in order to assess developing microbial associations for biodegeradation of pesticides in mycorrhizosphere. The research finding shows that Chlorpyrifos was more toxic than Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate at higher concentrations (75 and 100mg/kg) for the germination, survival and subsequent growth of Cenchrus setigerus, and Pennisetum pedicellatum. The heterotrophic microbial populations were found to be higher in the mycorrhizosphere soil of co-cropping system of Cenchrus setigerus and Pennisetum pedicellatum as compared to individual mycorrhizospheres of Cenchrus setigerus and Pennisetum pedicellatum, for all the three pesticides at each concentration ranging from 10 mg/kg to 100mg/kg. This study will help in selection plants for further investigation of th