Not everyone knows what lupine is, why this plant is grown and where it can be used in agriculture. For this reason, culture is not widely popular in Russia. Meanwhile, the plant has high agricultural value. If we consider the fodder species, several varieties that differ in color and in yield are especially popular.
What does lupine feed look like?
The plant belongs to the legume family. You can guess it yourself if you look at the flowers. Each bud resembles an inflorescence of peas or beans.
Industrial Lupine
For reference! The name in Latin is written as Lupinus, in Russia it is also called "wolf bean."
Lupine feed has the following botanical description:
- Feed grade is an annual herbaceous plant.
- The bush reaches 1 m in height, and the root is 1.5 m in depth.
- The leafy part resembles a crown of palm trees.
- The flower has a zygomorphic appearance of an oval or elongated shape.
- Seeds resemble small beans of slightly concave shape. The color of the seeds is close to beige.
Varieties of seeds of different varieties of lupine
Lupine in agriculture is an herbaceous annual plant that has high nutritional value.
Common varieties
The most popular varieties in agriculture are:
- yellow;
- narrow-leaved;
- blue;
- white;
- bush.
In nature, there are more than 300 varieties that have individual distinctive features.
The plant has attracted human attention for a very long time. The flower began to be actively planted near the home.
The culture of growing plants of the genus Lupine in agriculture appeared much later - during the development of selection as a science. Lupine for livestock feed was raised only in 1998. The culture is 40% protein and does not require special growing or care conditions. Today, the flower is becoming a competitor to soy.
How is a plant grown for animal feed
Can I feed animals with lupins
Is it possible to give lupins to animals - this is the question that interests livestock breeders. The answer is yes.
Currently, the plant’s fruits are added to feed for animals and birds. But it’s important to choose the right variety for a particular type of animal or bird.
- Lupine for chickens
Regarding whether lupines can be given to chickens, there is an exact recommendation. In the process of making chicken feed, this plant is often used. It is advisable to use white lupine for laying hens and broilers, but in a different percentage. In the diet of the former - 15%, of the latter - 20%.
If the crop is so nutritious and healthy, the question arises - is it possible for chickens to have wild lupine? In a small amount, you can mix the seeds or color with the main feed. Natural use during walking is allowed. But they are not recommended to collect specially to feed the bird.
- Lupine for cows
It is sometimes difficult to determine exactly whether cows can be lupine. Cows and pigs are strictly forbidden to eat blue and purple varieties - there is a deterioration in the quality of milk and bitterness appears in the meat. It is better to use a white variety, as for chickens.
- Lupine on the hay
Is it possible to mow this type of grass on hay without waiting for the seeds to ripen? It is advisable to dry the white variety in larger quantities than others. The plant must be mixed with other herbs.
Features of cultivation of lupine fodder
White lupine, the cultivation technology of which is very simple, is especially popular with many farmers who have already managed to consider the benefits in this new crop.
To get a good crop, you need to properly sow grass and care for it. The plant is considered unpretentious and easy to grow.
Lupine cultivation in the fields
Additional Information! In order to get a good crop with minimal costs, you need to choose varieties in accordance with the climatic conditions of the region.
It is important to choose the right place, organize watering, and spray regularly. So that the yield was high, it is desirable to prepare a nutrient ground.
- Lighting
You can plant a wolf bean culture in the fields, in the open. You can plant lupins for feeding livestock in the garden. Light penumbra is not afraid of the plant.
- Watering
When sowing in the field, irrigation is difficult to organize, but the crop can tolerate drought. If there is watering, the yield will be higher. Therefore, large agricultural enterprises that have watering machines in their fleet benefit.
Growing lupine
- Spraying
It is necessary to spray pests with herbicides. The procedure is carried out a month after germination.
- Priming
In order for lupine to grow and develop well, you need to choose soil with loamy, sandy loam and sod-podzolic composition. Organic fertilizers can be added. The acidity of the soil should have a pH of 5.7-6.5.
- Top dressing
It is not enough to plant a plant, it is necessary to produce periodic top dressing. It is worth using phosphorus, potassium and trace elements in the form of boron and molybdenum.
When and how it blooms
Fodder lupine for animals is valuable not only during the ripening period, but also at the time of flowering. Value lies in aesthetic appeal.
Flowering lupine
- Flowering period
Culture begins to bloom in late May, less often in early June. Flowers can be observed for 3 weeks. The buds begin to blossom, starting from the bottom, and advancing to the top of the spikelet.
- Changes in flowering care
During the flowering period, fertilizers are allowed to be applied, but only organic and in small quantities. In order for the flowering to be magnificent, and the seeds to be of high quality, you need to organize good watering.
For reference! If seeds are not needed, then during the flowering period, no additional care measures should be taken.
Flower appearance
- Seed ripening time
Seeds ripen by August. After harvesting and drying, you can feed the animals after 1-2 weeks.
How to Propagate by Seed - A Quick Guide
The easiest way to grow a plant is from seeds. Sowing should be carried out in the spring, when the soil is still wet. If the plantation is sown small, it can be propagated by dividing the bush.
Sowing Guide:
- Make small grooves with a depth of about 1-2 cm.
- Moisten the soil so that the seeds germinate faster and do not deteriorate.
- Spread the seeds evenly along the trench.
- Sprinkle planting material with soil. Do not tamp the earth.
Propagating seeds
After about 15-20 days, the first seedlings will appear if sown in the spring. Sometimes the laying of planting material is carried out in the fall.
Possible problems in growing
Agricultural lupine is practically not affected by diseases, pests also rarely attack the crop. But there are still problems.
- Disease
Lupine for animal feed is not affected by disease. Powdery mildew may occur if the weather is too dry or windy.
- Pests
As with all plants of the feed genus, a spider mite or caterpillar may appear on this crop. But such pests infect culture extremely rarely and affect a small number of plants.
- Other problems
Growing a fodder variety of flowers
This feed plant is not a problem in terms of cultivation and care. Very rarely pests or diseases appear. But they can not cause the death of culture.
In conclusion, we note once again that not every variety can be given as feed to an animal or poultry. There are several well-known varieties that are specifically designed for this. Farmers or managers of agricultural enterprises must pay attention to this culture.
