lupin (Lupinus L.)

Seeds  – White Lupin

Importance and grain composition:

The lupin is cultivated mainly for livestock feed. Not only dry seeds are used, but also the whole plant as fodder. Some species are utilized in the food industry such as the white lupine whose seeds can be made the same use as other legumes, and Lupinus mutabilis used for oil production (Vernacular names include tarwi, tarhui, chocho, altramuz, Andean lupin, South American lupin, or pearl lupin.).

Lupin seeds are high in crude protein (30-40%), high in lysine, and low in nitrogen-free extract (15-20%), because lupine is a proteinaceous legume. Crude fibre (14%) and fat (5-7%) contents are higher than those in other legumes. The seeds contain 2-3% minerals.

The lupin contains antinutritional substances, the most important being chinolizidine alkaloids. The garden lupine, growing as wild species in this country, contains a very poisonous substance lupanin. Poisoning causes impaired limb motility, cramps and can lead to death. Lupanin poisoning occurs mainly in the autumn when the garden lupin matures. Another alkaloid is anagyrin whose teratogenic effects have been demonstrated in lactating cows between the 40^th and the 70^th day of pregnancy. So called “bitter”, wild varieties are not suitable for feeding due to a high content of alkaloids. A marked decrease in alkaloid level can be achieved by selection, therefore “sweet” varieties have been developed. Seed toxicity can be decreased by various technological procedures such as toasting, cooking, extraction. Also fertilizing with cobaltous salt can decrease alkaloid contents in seeds. Neither sweet varieties are recommended for livestock nutrition at higher inclusion levels because they may worsen the taste of eggs and milk.

 Cultivation requirements:

The lupin has a massive root system and tolerates less fertile soils. They like mainly acid soils, although white lupine requires more neutral soils. Cultivation of sweet varieties, however, is difficult because they are more susceptible to diseases. The vegetation period is relatively long which can be a problem at higher altitudes. Cultural species require enough moisture. The lupin is a nitrogen fixing plant, and under conditions favourable for nodular bacteria it can cover its own nitrogen requirement. It is not demanding as regards a  previous crop, the most suitable previous crops are fertilized root plants, but usually it is grown after cereals.