Allelopathic potential of Trifolium resupinatum L. (Persian clover) and Trifolium alexandrium L. (Berseem clover)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in order to determine if Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) and Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrium) contained water‐soluble and methanol‐soluble constituents that could affect the seedling growth of four test species; namely, Amaranthus retroflexus, Convolvulus arvensis (field bindweed), Secale cereale, and Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard). The above‐ground tissues of the Persian and Berseem clover plants were collected during the vegetative growth stage and oven‐dried. Three concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts were used at full‐strength (33.3 g L−1), half‐strength (16.7 g L−1), and quarter‐strength (8.3 g L−1). Distilled water was used as the control. The weed seeds were placed in Petri dishes containing the legume extract or distilled water (control). The seedling growth of the weed species declined with the increasing concentration of the clover extracts. Wild mustard exhibited the highest sensitivity to both the legume extracts. Compared to the aqueous extract, the methanolic extract caused a greater decline in the seedling growth of the weeds. Berseem clover was the stronger inhibitor of the weed seedling growth, as compared to Persian clover. Therefore, the amounts of allelochemicals present might differ in these two clover species. Field bindweed showed the least sensitivity to both the legume extracts. Field bindweed showed more tolerance to the allelochemicals produced by the clover species.