Narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) – a medium-sized, erect, indeterminate plant with dark green leaves and weak anthocyanin stem pigmentation. The flower is white with a yellow keel tip, the pod is of medium length, and the seed is white without ornamentation at full maturity.
The variety is characterized by an early onset of flowering and green ripening, as well as a short growing season – from germination to seed maturity 82-84 days. The yield of dry matter of green mass is about 381 kg/ha, seed yield – 24.8 kg/ha. Alkaloid content in seeds is 0.058% and in dry matter of green mass 0.02%, which corresponds to a low level of toxicity.
Lupin is an effective cover crop: it fixes nitrogen thanks to symbiosis with bacteria, absorbs phosphorus and potassium, and the root system reaches a depth of up to 2 m, bringing nutrients into the topsoil layer. After sowing lupin, practically any crops can be grown, especially nitrogen-demanding ones, such as strawberries and potatoes, while their yield increases by 130-150%. The variety is resistant to fusarium and is less affected by anthracnose compared to standard varieties. When used as a cover crop, it is recommended to incorporate green matter to a depth of about 8 cm with a layer thickness of no more than 6 cm to ensure optimal decomposition and improve soil structure.
