EN
Field experiments were conducted in the Prusy Research Station (near Kraków). Red clover was grown as an undersown plant with spring cereals (barley, wheat, and triticale) and field bean or without a supporting plant (control). Productivity and supporting capacity of spring cereals and field bean were compared. Red clover established in all supporting plants in spite of different degree of shading and their productivity. Taking into account the economical value of the yield, the supporting plants could be arranged in a following order: wheat > barley > triticale, and field bean. For these reasons growing red clover without supporting plants is not recommended. The leaf area of canopy of a supporting plant was not the only factor determining the amount of photosynthetic active radiation absorbed by the undersown plant during the periods of the most intesive shading.