Effect of sowing rate and sowing date on lupin seed yield

Trials were carried out with Lupinus angustifolius cv. ‘Uniharvest’ sown in autumn and spring at five sowing rates. The spring‐sown trial included L. luteus cv. ‘Weiko III’ at four sowing rates. Autumn sowing produced the highest yields, and ‘Weiko III’ yielded substantially less than spring‐sown ‘Uniharvest’. The optimum sowing rates demonstrated by the results were higher than the rates currently being recommended. Yield component analysis showed that numbers of seeds per pod and 100‐seed weight were not generally affected by sowing rate or sowing date. Autumn sowing greatly increased the numbers of lateral branches.