Seasonal growth of tree lupins (Lupinus arboreus) and the effect of defoliation on leaf production

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SummaryThe growth of tree lupins was investigated in two experiments. In the first, two ages of plant, 4‐wk‐old seedlings and 1‐year‐old plants, were transplanted into a ryegrass sward in an upland environment. Growth, in terms of leaf production, branching and stem elongation, was measured over two successive growing seasons. Plant dry matter and nutrient contents were determined at the beginning and end of each growing season. In the first summer, the rate of production of new leaves on the main stem of seedling plants averaged 1.8 leaves per wk and main stem length increased from 5 to 67 cm. On older plants, where floral apices had been initiated on main and primary stems, there was a 3–10 fold increase in secondary branch length. In the second season, there was no effect of plant age on rates of leaf appearance or stem extension; dry matter production was higher than in the first season.In the second experiment, the effect of removal of 0%, 50% or 100% of fully expanded leaves on the subsequent growth of 23‐wk‐old plants was investigated. During the 7‐wk growth period, defoliation promoted the rate of production of mature leaves, and area and dry weight of new laminae were slightly higher in defoliated plants. Defoliation did not affect the concentrations of N, P or K in the new laminae, but P and K concentrations in petioles of defoliated plants were significantly higher than those in intact plants.The results from the experiments are discussed in relation to the potential use of tree lupins as nurse species and biomass crops in hill and upland environments of the UK.