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- Title
BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AGRICULURAL IMPORTANCE, AND MANAGEMENT OF YELLOW SWEETCLOVER (MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS (L.) LAM.
- Authors
Pacanoski, Zvonko
- Abstract
Melilotus officinalis, an annual or biennial dicot species of the family Fabaceae, is a common herb that is often found in disturbed habitats and agricultural areas in many parts of the temperate and tropical regions of the world. It is a native of Mediterranean area through central Eurasia east to Tibet. M. officinalis is considered to be an aggressive, highly invasive species, noxious and "cosmopolitan" weed in native prairie community, meadows and several crops of major importance, such as wheat, soybean, onion, olive trees and strawberry. It is adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions and grows on a wide variety of soil types. As opportunistic biennial, M. officinalis possesses characteristics that make it competitive in nature and alter soil characteristics. It colonizes disturbed areas, produces a large number of seeds, grows early in the season to create a tall dense colony, producee extensive root systems and fixes nitrogen for its immediate use. The management of M. officinalis can be achieved by herbicide application, mechanical (hand pulling, mowing, grazing), physical (fire) and biological control methods. The plant is reported to be honey plant as well as for forage and for green manure, edible and is also used for medicinal purposes.
- Subjects
SWEET clover; LEGUMES; INTRODUCED plants; BIENNIALS (Plants); INVASIVE plants; BIOLOGICAL weed control; BOTANICAL research; PLANT ecology; HONEY plants
- Publication
Herbologia, 2010, Vol 11, Issue 2, p25
- ISSN
1840-0809
- Publication type
Article