Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Zurich-Reckenholz

Lupin – an alternative crop

The cultivation of new sweet white lupin (Lupinus albus) and narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), and the introduction of crop related subsidies turned lupins into an interesting alternative for Swiss farmers. A two year study was carried out at the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture (FAL) at Zurich to compare different cultivars of both species at different locations. The grain yield of the white lupin cultivar Amiga was about 40 dt/ha, those of narrow-leafed lupins about 30 dt/ha. Due to a better tolerance of anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), we recommend narrow-leafed lupins for organic farming.

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