Lupin's nitrogen fixing is well known, but a recent trial by Alan Meldrum, pulse development officer with Pulse Australia, demonstrates the ability of lupins to suppress root disease may be just as valuable.
Lupins boosted wheat yield by 13pc in the trial, with 7pc of the yield boost attributed to root disease suppression.
According to the Grains Research and Development Corporation, gross returns in wheat improved by $62/ha purely on the yield boost from disease suppression.
Overall, lupins improved wheat gross return by $107/ha when the value of the nitrogen supply was factored in.
Wheat protein levels also benefited after lupins, consistently gaining 1pc across all treatments, raising the grade from ASW to APW or APW to AH.
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