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Plant Characteristics:

• Sweet White Lupin - Lupinus albus L. .
• Upright, heavy stem, 32 - 40'' tall.
• Single tap root system with threadlike portions reaching down to 2.5 feet.
• White flower.
• Each plant can produce primary, secondary, and tertiary pods with each pod containing 3 - 7 seeds.
• The primary pod setting is a cluster of 5 - 7 pods on a healthy plant.
• Secondary and tertiary clusters set between 3 - 6 pods.
• Like other legumes, lupins can fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with a lupin-specific Rhizobium-bacteria, Rhizobium lupini.
• Lupins are one of the highest nitrogen fixing legumes when proper inoculated.
• Lupins have the unique ability of using otherwise plant-unavailable soil phosphorus.
• Lupins are a cool season crop. Plants are cold tolerant and survive frosts up to -9ºC.
• Temperatures of more than 29ºC during flowering may cause plant to abort its flowers. Early planting is recommended.
• Approximately 115 days to maturity.
• Flowering of primary pod setting is 60 - 70 days from planting. The secondary flower set will be 12 - 16 days after primary flower setting, and tertiary flowers are set 12 - 16 days after secondary flower set.

Seed Characteristics:

• Seed size: approx. 1cm.
• White - beige, square shaped seed.
• Seed hull:
  - colour: white
  - 83% dietary fibre.
• Cotyledons:
  - colour: yellow
  - 13% fat, 35% protein, 38% carbohydrates.
• Bushel weight: 60 lbs..
• Safe seed storage at 13% moisture.

Agronomic Suggestions:

• Choosing the appropriate land for growing lupins:
  - lupins perform best on coarse to medium coarse soils (sandy and loam type soils)
  - finer soils with greater water holding capacity may increase root rot potential
  - a medium to high drainage soil type is required
  - low to medium levels of organic matter is preferred
  - high organic matter can increase disease potential
  - lupins are sensitive to soluble salts
  - lupin strains have been developed for growth on higher pH soils (6.5 - 8.1)
  - fertility requirements are moderate
  - adequate moisture for germination, flowering, and pod set is required.
• Early planting is strongly recommended (115 days growing season; to avoid high temperatures at flowering, which can cause flowers to abort; cold and frost tolerance).
• Inoculation with proper inoculant is required (Rhizobium lupini). Inoculants for other legumes cannot be substituted. Follow general guidelines for inoculating pulse crops to insure a high survival rate of the Rhizobium bacteria on the seed.
• To date, research trials have shown no lupin response to any fertilizer nutrient.
• Well drained soils are essential in minimizing root disease problems.
• A continous legume rotation can cause growing problems.
• A well tilled smooth seed bed is essential to ensure consistent planting depth and germination.
• To date, insects have not posed an economic concern. Blister beetles have been noted as short term feeders at mostly minimal damage at current infestation levels.
• Full season weed control is necessary for optimum yields.
• A Roundup application in the fall prior to lupin production is to consider if there is a heavy quack grass infestation.
• Herbicides labeled in Canada:
  - Sencor (Maritimes only)
  - Linuron
  - Dual
  - other herbicides are being secured for use, but are currently not labeled.
• Seeding rate: 140 - 150 lbs./acre (approx. 180 000 plants as a final stand is recommended).
• Seeding depth: 0.5 - 1.5'', depending on soil type and moisture. Use seeding equipment that can guarantee an even seeding depth.
• Roll the field before emergence to ensure good soil contact around the seed to insure quick germination.
• Lupins can be combined by direct cut or swathing. Swathing may benefit weedy fields to dry down.
• Harvest at 13 - 15% moisture. Slow cylinder speed to avoid cracking (600 rpm). Set cylinder clearance and air flow at maximum value.
• Lupins should be dried down to 13% moisture.

Use and Markets:

• High protein animal feed.
• Human consumption (canned lupins, roasted lupins, etc.).

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November 24, 2003