Effectiveness of different sources of manganese foliar sprays in alleviating manganese deficiency of Lupinus angustifolius L grown on manganese deficient soils in western Australia

Responses of narrow-leafed sweet lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.) to foliar sprays of different sources of manganese (Mn) were compared in field experiments in three years at six sites in Western Australia. The relative effectiveness of manganese chelate (EDTA; 14% Mn) and manganese sulfate (25% Mn) applied as foliar sprays for alleviating Mn deficiency of lupins was assessed. Each source was sprayed at six levels of Mn (0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.50, 1.0, and 2 kg Mn/ha) when pods on the main stem were 2-3 cm long to define the relationship between seed and the amount of foliar Mn applied for lupins grown on Mn-deficient soil. Manganese chelate, manganese sulfate, and the Mangasol sprays were equally effective. For all sources, 1.0 kg Mn/ha sprayed on the foliage was required to produce maximum seed yield and reduce split seed to an acceptable level (<4%). In all years, manganese sulfate banded with the seed produced similar seed yields as Mn sprayed on the foliage.