Well drained red loam soil suitable for L. albus (Avon Valley, Western Australia)
Agronomy & Farming Systems
Lupins are important components of farming systems on deep, infertile sands in Australia, Germany, Poland and Russia. They are harvested for grain, green manured or made into silage. Often the grain produced is fed on-farm to livestock. Lupins being a nitrogen fixing legume have developed a special role as a rotation crop with wheat and other cereals. They can also benefit the following crop by reducing disease burdens. Similarly, the longer the gap between lupin crops the lower the risk of lupin diseases.
In Australia, lupins are grown in regions of winter dominant rainfall and the crops (L. angustifolius, L. albus and L. luteus) are autumn sown with terminal drought determining crop ripening. In Northern Europe the same lupin species are spring sown and grown over summer with the season start dictated by soil temperature for germination.
The value of lupins is not determined just by the return from the harvested grain; factors such as the disease break for following crops, nitrogen fixation by lupins and the value of stubble and lupin grain for stock feed must be considered, or the profitability of lupins will be underestimated. It is therefore important to look at lupins in rotation with other crops and not in isolation.
Australia
The rapid expansion of the narrow-leafed lupin (L. angustifolius) and development of agronomic techniques have helped transform the region in Western Australia where deep sands predominate into one of the most profitable grain growing regions in Australia. Wheat yields and protein levels are increased when grown after lupins.
The desire of farmers in Western Australia to grow lupins in frequent, intensive rotations with cereal has led to the increased difficulty managing weeds. Some weed species in these systems have developed resistance to herbicides. In response lupins are being cropped less frequently by some farmers. A range of new techniques are being developed for situations where intensive lupin cropping is desirable.
Crop Establishment
The goals in establishing a lupin crop are:
- Effective pre-sowing weed control
- Optimum plant density (usually 45 plants per square metre)
- Effective incorporation of any pre-planting residual herbicides
- Surface stubble retention
- Placement of the seed at the correct depth
- Loosen soil below the seed for quick root growth
- Adequate fertiliser, placed separate from the seed to avoid toxicity
- Relatively loose soil above the seed
Harvesting a mature lupin crop near Geraldton, Western Australia
Several lupin establishment goals may be in conflict and some compromise is usually necessary. Each situation must be carefully examined so that the chosen compromise is that most likely to result in good, low risk crop establishment.
Minimum or zero tillage is highly suitable for lupins. The cereal stubble provides protection for the seedling lupin plant. This is important on sandy soils where wind erosion may be a problem and the lupin plant may suffer from wind blasting. Stubble also helps to reduce splash of brown spot spores.
Harvesting
Lupins should be harvested as soon as they are ripe. Delays can result in significant yield losses due to lodging, pod shattering and pod drop. Lupins must be harvested within three weeks of maturity.
A moisture meter should be used to determine when the lupin crop is ready, and harvest should start as soon as the moisture content reaches 14 per cent. In some seasons this will occur when the stems are still pale green.
