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Title: TILLAGE AND ROTATION EFFECTS ON LUPIN IN DOUBLE-CROPPING SYSTEMS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN USA

Author
item VAN SANTEN, EDZARD - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald

Submitted to: Lupin International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2003
Publication Date: 6/24/2003
Citation: Van Santen, E., Reeves, D.W. 2003. Tillage and rotation effects on lupin in double-cropping systems in the southeastern usa. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Lupin Conference - Wild and Cultivated Lupins from the Tropics to the Poles, June 19-24, 2004, Laugarvatn, Iceland. 2003 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Successful introduction of a new crop into a region requires that basic crop management parameters be determined and provided to producers through an information extension system. White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was cultivated in the southeastern USA from 1930-1950 on up to 1 million ha, primarily as a cover crop. If it is to be a bona fide crop again, some basic management research needs to be done. Our objectives were two-fold: (1) determine the effects of continuous lupin cultivation on yield, and (2) determine the effect of conservation system management on yield. A rotation study was conducted at the E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, AL from 1992 until 2001 on a Dothan fine sandy loam (Plinthic Kandiudult). Conventional (disk, chisel, disk, field-cultivate) and strip-tillage (no-tillage with in-row subsoiling) treatments were applied in a factorial combination with 10 crop rotation sequences. The sequences were designed to study the effect of summer cropping system (pearl millet cv. Georgia-Agra Tech HGM-100, soybean cv. Brim, and fallow) and intervening winter wheat (cv. Coker 9835) on the performance of white lupin cv. Lunoble. Forage yield of lupin was highest when it succeeded pearl millet, intermediate for summer fallow and lowest when soybean was the summer crop. Tillage effects on biomass yield of continuously cropped lupin were fairly small and inconsistent from year to year. Grain yield response of continuously cropped lupin was the same as for forage yield; however, response to tillage was more consistent. Strip-tilled lupin grain yields were greater than conventional-tilled lupin in all but one year. Grain yield in a system alternating wheat and lupin was consistently better under strip-tillage than under conventional tillage. This experiment demonstrates that white lupin can be successfully integrated into cropping systems in the southeastern USA.