The Unknown Lupine

Video: The Unknown Lupine

Video: The Unknown Lupine
Video: Lupine Song 2024, December
The Unknown Lupine
The Unknown Lupine
Anonim

Lupins, or rather sweet lupins, have more than 300 varieties. They are non-alkaloid and were created in the 1930s.

There are perennials and annuals, most of which are wild. Only a few species, mainly European, have been cultivated. Their use as food for humans and animals is constantly increasing. The fruits are beans.

In addition to the sweet, there is also a wild, bitter peel. It contains the alkaloids lupinin, lupanidine and others, which are poisonous to animals.

In Europe, the most common are sweet herbaceous varieties of lupine, and rather blue, white and yellow lupine. Of these, white lupine is used the most.

Types of lupine
Types of lupine

It is not very popular in Bulgaria and has a limited distribution. This may be due to ignorance about its amazing properties.

The lupine is characterized by a dense and stable stem. Its leaves are large, feathery and dark green. It blooms in large white flowers. The fruits are large, round beans, gathered in pods.

Lupine has no specific requirements for growing conditions and soil. Everywhere it gives high grain yields and a lot of green mass. Wherever it is grown, it enriches the soil with organic matter and nitrogen.

Therefore, it is often planted on sandy soils, poor in nutrients, as well as on farms producing organic products. It improves the structure of the soil. The deep and root system prevents wind erosion.

Among other things, it is dry and cold resistant. This makes it suitable for growing in our country. Grows well among sunflowers, poppies and wheatgrass.

The seeds and green mass of the lupine are extremely rich in protein - up to 38%. In terms of content, they are measurable with the best fodder legumes.

Lupine beans
Lupine beans

It can replace 65 to 100% of soybean meal in the ration for animals such as pigs, cows, turkeys, calves and lambs.

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