Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Lupin Cultivars

AbstractThe cultivation of Lupin, Lupinus spp., as a protein source for animal feed and as a way of improving soil fertility is of interest for crop rotation under rainfed Mediterranean climatic conditions and poor acid soils. The adaptation of a cultivar from each one of the four cultivated species of lupin: L. albus (L.), L. luteus (L.), L. angustifolius (L.), and L. mutabilis (Sweet) has been studied. A comparative analysis of their growth (dry matter, growth rates, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD), yield, yield components and harvest index (HI), protein, and fat content was carried out in the Guadalquivir Valley in southern Spain on a river terrace with Haploxeralf soil and a loamy clay texture. Variations in climatic conditions markedly influenced the duration of the different growth stages, accumulation of dry matter, leaf area and yield of the different cultivars. Lupinus albus was the species best adapted to the conditions of the survey, distributing its dry matter better and showing better growth indexes and higher grain yield. Lupinus mutabilis proved to be inadvisable for autumn sowings under the ecological conditions of the area. It was sensitive to the cold during its vegetative stage and performed poorly. The values found for the L. luteus and the angustifolius cultivars were less than those registered in other areas where it is a traditional crop. Better growth and grain yield was obtained with them when emergence was in early rather than late autumn.