The use of a land suitability model to predict where autumn-sown, determinate genotypes of the white lupin (Lupinus albus) might be grown in England and Wales

Abstract

S U M M A R YA model was developed to assess the suitability of land in England and Wales for growing newly developed genotypes of autumn-sown determinate white lupins. The model used soil pH, the number of degree-days accumulated for mainstem leaf production before the apical meristem of the mainstem became floral, and the number of machinery work days in autumn. Interactions between these three components were used to set thresholds to determine land suitability within 5 x 5 km grid squares of the National Soil Map.Of the potential 13-75 Mha of arable land in England and Wales, a total of 7-54 Mha are well or moderately suited to growing these lupin genotypes. This is equivalent to c. 2 Mha of land within the arable rotation each year. It was estimated that, because of low soil pH, lupins would be the preferred legume on 0-3 Mha out of this 2 Mha. The model was also used to assess the risk of soil acidification and nitrate leaching following mineralization of lupin residues. This exercise indicated that there was little risk of either on much of the land suited to lupins.i N T R n n i i r n r i M The white lupin (Lupinus albus) originates from the 1IN1KUUUL1IUIN Mediterranean area (Gladstones 1984) and there have The production of large surpluses of cereals and other been several attempts to introduce it into the UK arable crops within the EC during the past decade has during the past 3-4 decades (Williams 1979). These stimulated the search for alternative combinable crops attempts failed, largely because the spring-sown, suited to the main arable areas of the UK. Research indeterminate genotypes that were then available had on oilseed rape and linseed has established their poor yield stability across seasons and locations and cultural needs, but there is still underproduction of did not ripen consistently and sufficiently early to be protein and a need for additional grain legumes, commercially acceptable (Milford et al. 1993). HowLupin seed contains 35-45% protein and 8-12% oil ever, new forms of L, albus have been developed and is thus a temperate equivalent of the soya bean recently that greatly enhance the crop's prospects in but, in the UK, it has more promise for its protein the UK. First, genotypes with sufficient cold hardiness than for its oil. Lupins are a low-input crop of great and frost tolerance have been selected which allow potential within sustainable agricultural systems, lupins to be sown in autumn (Huyghe 1990). Although They not only fix considerable quantities of atmos-autumn sowing greatly enhanced the potential for pheric nitrogen, but their specialized, acid-secreting, yield and nitrogen fixation, it did not, of itself, proteoid roots can obtain both phosphorus and iron guarantee early harvest (Milford et al. 1993). Second, from insoluble sources within the soil that are not genetically-determinate lines which produced only a available to other crop species. A proportion of these mainstem plus one order of branches were selected nutrients may become available to following crops in from...

Effects of Temperature and Photoperiod on Days to Flowering, Yield and Yield Components of Lupinus albus (L.) under Field Conditions

“…According to Siddons et al (1994) there is a limited period when sowing must occur on each location in order to ensure successful establishment and plant structure necessary to produce an economic yield. Lower yield risks due to early planting in cold soils may indicate a narrow sowing window (suitable and sufficient period of time allowing for, e.g., proper soil preparations before actual planting) for optimum seeding date for lupins in environments where winter crops can be cultivated.…”

Climate Change Impacts on Corn Phenology and Productivity

“…There have continued to be advances in the development of agroclimatic indices to evaluate the suitability of a location for a particular crop since Neild and Richman [18]. Siddons et al [46] cautioned that development of robust agroclimatic indices requires observations collected over long time periods and extensive observations from experimental locations. There has been an evolution in agroclimatic indices to include more factors affecting plant growth and development to derive values that characterize the environment and the potential for crop production.…”

White lupin: An alternative to pea in oat-legume forage mixtures grown in Newfoundland

“…For N analyses of the harvested forage (Thomas et al 1967), we used a Traacs 800 autoanalyzer. Forage N concentration was not determined for the 1991 Colinet trial.…”

“…Lupin is a low input crop with some potential within sustainable agricultural systems (Siddons et al 1994). Silage lupin systems are possible up to 53°N (Forrest 1991) with comparable yields and higher protein than small grains (Aksland 1991).…”