Lupins

Western Australia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of lupins with the majority exported as animal feed to the European Union, Japan and Korea – delivering the state about $65 million in export earnings in 2011–12.

Lupins are now being promoted as human food with medical studies confirming their benefits in combating high blood sugar, heart disease and obesity.

Since the release of the first fully domesticated Australian sweet lupin in the late 1960s, lupin breeding by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has resulted in a doubling of lupin yields from 0.7-1.5 tonnes per hectare.

The department supports the pre-breeding, breeding, agronomics and market development of the WA lupins industry, in conjunction with industry partners.

Articles

Diagnosing phosphorus deficiency in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Nearly all soils in WA were phosphorus (P) deficient when cleared for agriculture, but continual use of P fertiliser means acute deficiency in broadacre crops is rare, with the exception of very ac
Diagnosing phomopsis stem and pod blight in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Phomopsis stem and pod blight (Diaporthe toxica) occasionally causes yield losses, however the major impact of infection is the production of a mycotoxin (phomopsin) by the fungus as it gr
Diagnosing weevils in lupins and field peas

19 January 2015

Weevils are beetles with long snouts that can rarely damage lupins in high rainfall areas. Species include:
Diagnosing onion maggot in lupins and peas

19 January 2015

Onion maggot (Delia platura, incorrectly known as bean root maggot fly) rarely affects young lupin and pea crops sown into green decomposing organic matter.
Diagnosing nodule dysfunction in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Nitrogen deficiency from nodule dysfunction can be caused by lack of Rhizobia, soil conditions, herbicide toxicity, or molybdenum or cobalt deficiency.
Diagnosing mouse damage in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Mice are seasonal pests that can affect any crop. Usually they favour paddocks with high stubble retention.
Diagnosing manganese deficiency in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Manganese deficiency usually has little effect on vegetative growth but can substantially reduce grain yield ('split seed').
Diagnosing lucerne seed web moth in lupins and peas

19 January 2015

The larvae of the lucerne seed web moth (Etiella behrii - also called Etiella web moth) is an infrequent pest of peas and lupins.
Diagnosing iron deficiency in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Lupin crops grown on fine-textured, alkaline soils that become saturated with water in winter will usually show bright yellowing of young leaves that is typical of iron deficiency.
Diagnosing hostile subsoil in narrow-leafed lupins

19 January 2015

Narrow-leafed lupins have sparse, deep root systems that are not suited to fine textured or shallow soils.