Evaluation of Cultivation and Establishment Possibility of the Species of Forage Lupine in Tabriz Plain

Forage crops are considered as important components of sustainable farming systems. Legumes have a specific role in farming systems. In order to assess the possibility of growing lupine in Tabriz plain, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out at the East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Research and Education Center, Iran. Three forage lupins varieties namely Dieta (Lupinus albus), Iris (L. angustifolius) and Pootallong (L. luteus) in this study were evaluated. The results indicated that establishment and survival percentage of varieties under farm condition were significantly different. The intraction effect of variety× days after planting on percentage of establishment among lupine speaces was significantly different. Seedling of Dieta and Iris varieties emerged 6 days after planting, but that of Pootallong could emergent after 9 days. Seedling of Iris and Pootallong varieties dried 27 and 18 days after planting, respectively. The trends of growth and establishment of Dieta variety in the farm was different from the other two varieties. It could achieve the peak emergence after 24 days. Although, Dieta lupine variety, by having 50.1% emergence in the field, was able to grow in the farm and produce seed, but it couldnt express acceptable seed yield and its component. Since the salinity of soil and water used in this experiment were 4580 and 5634 µs/m respectively, growth of these species, specially L. angustifolius and L. luteus (Iris and Pootallong varieties) came across sevrer limitations. More studies are needed to evaluate adaptability and planting time of Dieta cultivar in the region.