Assessing the allelopathic potential of white clover (Trifolium repens) for weed control in organic agriculture on long pepper (Capsicum annuum convar. longum) crop

M. Calara, N. Munteanu, D.I. Avasiloaiei, C. Brezeanu, P.M. Brezeanu, A. Antal-Tremurici, C. Bălăiță
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the allelopathic influence of white clover (Trifolium repens) on weed control. A single experimental variant was investigated, represented by the intercropping of white clover and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) with long pepper (Capsicum annuum convar. longum). The control represented by pepper crop without allelopathic species which was tillaged three times manually. The allelopathic species were sown 52 days prior to pepper planting. Weed infestation was evaluated using the metric frame. The number of weeds and their fresh matter m‑2 were assessed. The main weed species identified in pepper crop were: red-root amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus), cockspur (Echinochloa crus-galli), perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), pale knotweed (Persicaria lapathifolia), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), guasca (Galinsoga parviflora), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), flower-of-an-hour (Hibiscus trionum), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), shepherds purse (Capsella bursa pastoris) and petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus). The results indicated that the intercropping of white clover with pepper significantly reduced the number of weeds in the field compared to the control treatment without allelopathic species. This study highlights the potential of white clover as an effective allelopathic species for weed management.
Calara, M., Munteanu, N., Avasiloaiei, D.I., Brezeanu, C., Brezeanu, P.M., Antal-Tremurici, A. and Bălăiță, C. (2025). Assessing the allelopathic potential of white clover (Trifolium repens) for weed control in organic agriculture on long pepper (Capsicum annuum convar. longum) crop. Acta Hortic. 1416, 345-352
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.45
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.45
chemical interaction, associated plants, suppressive effects, secondary metabolites
English

Acta Horticulturae