The lupine is generally known for being an extremely decorative plant in the garden that can also be used as green manure. These characteristics should make them an excellent catch crop, right? Find out in our guide.
Is lupine a good catch crop?
The lupine is ideal as a cover crop because it binds nitrogen and improves the soil structure. Serradella is recommended as a previous crop, while winter grains such as wheat, rye or barley are ideal subsequent crops. Take breaks in the cultivation of legumes to prevent diseases.
Is lupine suitable as a cover crop?
The lupine isvery suitable as a catch crop. However, when integrating the butterflies into the crop rotation, theSelf-intolerance must be taken into account. Take cultivation breaks of four to six years - also for other legumes including clover grass mixtures. Otherwise there is a risk of yield losses due to various fungal diseases, such as mildew.
Which plant as a previous crop in lupine cover crop cultivation?
Basically, the lupine in cover crop cultivationdoesn't make any great demands on the previous crop. Almost all plants are suitable.
Particularly recommended isSerradella, also known as large bird's foot or claw clover. This legume is the only plant to use thesame rhizobia for nitrogen accumulation as the lupine. This means that with Serradella as a previous crop, the nodule bacteria are already enriched in the soil before the lupine appears.
Which plant as a follow-up crop in lupine cover crop cultivation?
As a follow-up crop for lupine as a catch crop,Winter grain is the best choice. This can make optimal use of the positive effects of the butterflies, specifically from the
- Nitrogen fixation (enables a reduction in nitrogen fertilization by around 20 to 30 kg/ha) and
- improved soil structure (more humus, optimized phosphate availability) thanks to the strong, widely branched taproots
benefit.
The winter grains that are important in this country include:
- Winter wheat
- Winter rye
- Winter barley
- Winter triticale (cross between wheat and rye)
Tip
Blue lupine as a preferred cover crop
Of the lupine species, blue lupine is primarily used in cover crop cultivation. It binds nitrogen in the air so that it can then be converted into plants.
