Laboratory of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, China.
*Correspondence author: E. Mail: yxshen@njau.edu.cn
**E. Mail: wucaixia1@yahoo.com.cn
In Laboratory bioassay and Pot culture, the allelopathic potential of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Alfaking), hairy vetch (Vicia rillosa Roth.) and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis Desr.) was determined on seed germination and seedling growth of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli [L.] Beauv.), annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) and Veronica persica Poir. The 10% (FW/V) aqueous extracts of alfalfa, hairy vetch and yellow sweet clover significantly inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of test weeds. At the same concentration, the seed germination of annual bluegrass was inhibited more by aqueous extract of yellow sweet clover than of alfalfa and hairy vetch. In pot experiments, the dry powdered mass of alfalfa, hairy vetch and yellow sweet clover at 90g/m2 inhibited the emergence and growth of barnyard grass and annual bluegrass. The application of yellow sweet clover dry powder inhibited the emergence and growth of Veronica persica Poir. Yellow sweet clover powdered biomass caused drastic inhibition in weeds growth, thus it may be used as natural herbicide for weed control in crops through intercropping, rotation or soil mulching.
Alfalfa, annual bluegrass, aqueous extracts, barnyard grass, bioassay, Echinochloa crusgalli, hairy vetch, inhibition, Medicago sativa, Melilotus officinalis, Poa annua, pot culture, seed germination, seedling growth, weed control, yellow sweet clover, Veronica persica, Vicia villosa
