02/01/1991

Canola, Lupin Research Highlight Farmer Meeting

SHORTER, Ala.—Canola and lupin are two little known crops that may make a big impact on Alabama agriculture, according to researchers in the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Tropical corn is another crop with limited potential, noted researchers speaking at a recent meeting with members of the Alabama Farmers Federation Wheat and Feed Grains Committee.

The group, representing farmers from throughout the state, toured research facilities at the E.V. Smith Research Center and met with Auburn University researchers and administrators to discuss the wheat and small grains research program being conducted by the Experiment Station.

Paul Mask, an assistant professor of agronomy, noted that upwards to five million acres of canola will need to be planted to meet estimated crop oil demands by the year 2,000. Currently, the Experiment Station is testing about 100 breeding lines of canola. "At least a three-year rotation is going to be critical in Alabama, because of the potential for disease problems," according to Mask.

Lupin is a legume that may become an important grain crop for cattle feed in Alabama. Experiment Station researchers are currently screening 90 breeding lines of white lupine. Auburn researcher Edzard van Santen noted that lupin has a big advantage over some other grains in that it can be ground on the farm and fed directly to livestock. It is also an ideal winter cover crop, and since it is a legume, it fixes nitrogen for itself and for subsequent summer crops.

Barry Jacobsen, head of the Plant Pathology Department at Auburn, told the group that pithium-related diseases may be a major problem for lupin production in the state. Other soil and seedborne diseases may be overcome by longer rotations (up to five years) and using clean seed. Since lupin is usually planted in October and harvested in the spring, the cool soil will eliminate or reduce many of the soilborne diseases that plague other grain crops in Alabama, Jacobsen concluded.

Wayne Reeves, an adjunct assistant professor of agronomy and U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher, told the Committee that initial attempts to produce tropical corn in Alabama have been plagued by numerous production problems. In tests at four sites last year, only one produced meaningful yields because of fall armyworm damage. Currently only one commercial variety of tropical corn is available, Pioneer 304C, which is a good silage producer, but poor for grain, according to Reeves.

During the meeting, Reeves discussed several tillage systems used for wheat and Harold Walker, a professor of agronomy, gave an update on wheat and small grain weed control. Walker stressed that wild radish and wild garlic are particularly tough weeds to control in wheat, and that a new herbicide, Harmony Extra, has provided excellent control of both weeds in tests throughout the state.

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By:
Roy Roberson