ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Effect of clovers intercropping and earthworm activity on weed growth
1
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, P.O. Box 69315516, Ilam, Iran
2
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran
4
Soil and Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
Corresponding author
Goltapeh Ebrahim Mohamadi
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran
Journal of Plant Protection Research 2010;50(4):463-469
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Forage legumes are used to enhance soil fertility of the agroecosystem. Understanding their effect on the agroecosystem during their growing period is essential. The objective of this field study was to evaluate annual clovers intercropping and earthworm activity on the growth of weeds. The field experiment was carried out during the 2006–2007 growing seasons at the research farm of the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj (Iran) involving various mixed cropping ratios of berseem clover (Trifolium
alexandrinum L., B) and Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L., P) (B : P = 1 : 0, 3 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 3) with and without earthworm Pheretima sp. inoculation. Nitrogen content of plants and weeds as well as biomass was measured. Forage yield was higher in 2006 than 2007 but had similar response to cropping systems and earthworm inoculation. Total forage yield was highest in mixed cropping system (MCS). While in the first cut, the berseem sole crop (SC) tended to greatly suppress the growth of weeds, in the second cut Persian clover sole crop further suppressed weeds. The greater total crop biomass had an even higher weed suppression. Earthworm activity did not affect cut 1 but increased forage and weed biomass yield in cut 2. However in cut 1, berseem tended to greatly suppress the growth of weeds, which may be explained by the greater nitrogen accumulation in monocultures and intercrops, Persian clover in cut 2 had greater suppression on weed biomass production. Nitrogen accumulation of crops and weed increased under earthworm activity in the second cut.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
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