N-fixing legume and sustainable P management
Lupins are N-fixing legumes that are reported to fix 300-400 kg N/ha in Europe and Australia (Jansen, 2006). Yellow lupins are reported to have the highest N-fixing potential among other lupins (Wolko et al., 2010). Lupins can provide benefit to the following crop (PGRO, 2014). In organic crops, lupins were demonstrated to result in a 0.5 t/ha response in rye grown following yellow lupins compared to following spring beans.
Lupins are valuable legumes for sustainable P management. In soils depleted in available P, lupin plants form specialized cluster root structures and/or release P-mobilizing carboxylates that free it from insoluble forms (Lambers et al., 2012).
Soil improver and reclamation
Thanks to its deep taproot, yellow lupin improves soil texture and drainage (Jansen, 2006). In Poland, yellow lupin has been recommended for sand mine cast reclamation before afforestation (Pietrzykowski et al., 2017).