Initial evaluation of lupin for forage

Small-plot trials with Lupinus albus cv. Kievskij Mutant (sweet) and L. angustifolius cv. Kubesa (bitter) and Uniwhite (sweet) were sown in April 1977. Sequential whole-crop samples of the above ground dry matter (DM) were taken to assess the interaction of DM yield and forage quality during crop growth. Both species had similar DM yields, exceeding 11 t DM ha¹ in August. L. albus displayed superior whole-crop in vitro digestibility from late July, due to the large contribution to total DM yield from this time from its succulent, highly digestible pod shells. L. angustifolius showed higher N contents in June and early July, but N concentrations fell below those of L. albus from early August. The steady decline in digestibility of forage from L. angustifolius suggests this species should be harvested rather earlier than L. albus. Harvested in mid-August, L. albus should yield 11 t DM ha^-1, ata D-value of 64 and 23·5 g N per kg DM, whereas L. angustifolius harvested 10–14 d earlier should give the same DM yield, but at a D-value of 58 and 22·0 g N per kg DM. Lupins can thus be regarded as having good potential forage yields, but providing material of only moderate quality.