EFFECT OF WITHIN ROW SPACING AND DATE OF PLANTING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LUPINE

A field experiment in as undertaken in three winter seasons, through 2003-2006 in Jadireya Farm / Univ. of Baghdad. This was to determine the influence of w'ithin row spacings (10, 20, and 30 cm.) and dates of planting (9/11, 23/11, 7/12 and 21/12) on growth and seed yield of lupine, A split - plot arrangement with RCBD of 4 replicates was used. The main plots were dates of planting and spacings were sub-plots. Planting was on furrows of 0.4 in, and 6 m long, Each experimental unit included 6 furrosys. Data of the mean of the three seasons showed that the highest plant height (49 cm) was obtained of planting in 9/11, Plant height wits increased from 39 cm to 49 cm as within rosy spacing increased from 10 cm to 30 cm. This has been reflected on plant root length that was increased from 15,5 cm to 17.3 cm Delayed planting from 9/11 to 21/12 reduced plant height from 49 cm to 33 cm and coincided with reduced plant root length from 17.3 cm to 15,8 cm, However, planting spacing did hot affect root dry weight, but delayed planting reduced it from 0.27 g to 0.17 is,. Plant dry weight was increased from 13g, to I5g when plant spacing increased from 10 cm to 30 cm. Whereas, plant dry weight seas decreased horn 17.4 g to 9.5 g when planting delayed from 9/11 to 21/12. The best seed yield (4.13 t/ha) was obtained from planting by 10x40 cm and 23/11 date of planting. Planting late in 21,12 and 30 cm spacing gave the lowest seed yield (0.68 t/ha), It was concluded that the best spacing for lupine was 10 x 40 cm when planted during 23/11 to 7/12, This treatment highest growth rate (5.39 it / m(2) / d). This implies that growth rate was the main outcome that balanced total dry matter of plant and seed yield to give suitable harvest index.considering the conventional formula