Alternative Crops in Rotations

Crop Alternatives Benefit Traditional Rotations

Lupin—a protein-rich feed and cover crop --helps increase tropical corn silage yields, generating interest from farmers across the South. Photos courtesy of Auburn University

Planting lupin, tropical corn and hybrid pearl millet can improve yields and extend the growing season when used in rotation with wheat and soybeans. A SARE grant tested the viability, profitability and resource-conserving potential of these field crops for silage and grain feed in six southern cropping systems. Lupins over-winter, while tropical corn and pearl millet can be planted in late spring/early summer for later harvest. Lupins act as an efficient nitrogen-rich "green manure" that resulted in tropical corn silage yields of 20.5 tons an acre. Tropical corn can follow lupin in late spring, unlike early planted field corn, and exhibits improved tolerance to common southern pests like armyworm. Those findings can help growers, who could add tropical corn to wheat and soybean rotations. Indeed, the total acreage of tropical corn went from about 3,000 acres 10 years ago to close to 100,000 today, partly a "direct result of the work we have done on tropical corn," says David Wright, University of Florida Extension specialist. Pearl millet also performed well behind lupins. At one location, millet yields equalled 129 bushels per acre, with lupin supplying about the equivalent of 60 pounds of applied nitrogen. A high protein grain, drought-tolerant hybrid pearl millet makes a nutritious feed for livestock, and can be planted as late as mid-July. (LS93-53)

Top