Abstract:Lucerne (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) are among the most important forage legumes on the Loess Plateau in China. Various studies have been undertaken on herbage dry matter yield, effects on water and soil conservation, and management aspects of these three legume species. However, study on soil fertility, weeds, and botanical composition of the plant communities has been sparse. Therefore, the biomass, weed invasion and soil fertility of four-year-o...