Discussions regarding green manures in Peru
-primarily tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis)-
(3/7/02 - 3/8/02)

postings: 6
countries: Ecuador, Italy, Honduras, United States
organizations/institutions/companies: COSECHA, Cornell University, IFAD

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From: Roland Bunch
To: Mulch-l@cornell.edu
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2002
Subject: Green manures in Peru

Dear Mulchers,

I have just returned from a trip to Peru, and found a few interesting practices there.

First of all, tarwi (or "tarhui" or "chocho") is definitely being used by small farmers, on their own initiative, as a green manure in Peru. I had been told that, in the absence of formal programs (and World Neighbors continues to have major success with tarwi as a gm/cc for increasing potato production), farmers only planted small amounts of tarwi around the outer edge of their potato or quinua or maize fields in order to keep out pests and have a little to eat. However, near Huanuco, I found farmers intercropping tarwi with maize and also planting it in solid blocks so their subsequent crops would produce better. That is, they are using tarwi both in rotations and intercrops, as a way of fertilizing their soils. (By the way, tarwi is a lupine that grows from about 2,500 to 4,000 mt in elevation, and fixes up to 400 kg/ha of pure nitrogen!--equivalent to about 18 sacks of urea).

Of equal interest, we found farmers in the same area using Dolichos lablab as an intercrop with maize, also with the double purpose of eating the bean and fertilizing their soils. In fact, one of the main dishes they served us for lunch (without knowing my ninterest in beans of all shapes and sizes) was green lablab beans in a local sauce. It was quite tasty.

So, we have at least three new systems to add to our list.

Sincerely,

Roland Bunch
COSECHA, Valle de Angeles, Honduras

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To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002
From: Baributsa Dieudonne
Subject: Re: Green manures in Peru

Dear Bunch,

Can You give me more information on tarhui :scientific name, life cycle...

Thanks,
Dieudonne

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From: Roland Bunch
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002
Subject: Re: Green manures in Peru

Dear Baributsa,

The scientific name of tarwi is Lupinus mutabilis. It is used as an annual, and I believe it is an annual, though I could be wrong (most people believe crops such as lablab beans and cotton are annuals, but in fact both can grow into sizable, fifteen-year-old trees).

Tarwi has a bushy habit, growing into a rounded bush of a maximum height of about 1.5 mts. It apparently grows quite well as an intercrop, at least with maize and potatoes.

Nevertheless, it will probably not serve as a food crop outside of the Andean area where it is already known and appreciated, because it has some tannins that make it quite bitter, and which require a fair amount of processing before people can eat the seed. "Sweeter" varieties have been developed (I have no idea who has such seed), but then we would probably run into serious problems of pests during the growing cycle. These crops that are extremely high in proteins (tarwi, soy, etc) or grow under very adverse conditions (tephrosia, jackbeans, etc) would never have survived in the wild if they did not have natural defenses to keep the pests away, so they are often not edible or are edible only after considerable processing.

Sincerely, Roland Bunch
Organization: COSECHA, Valle de Angeles, Honduras

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Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002
From: Steven John Vanek
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Green manures in Peru

Great to hear some details about the ongoing success with Tarwi; do you know about the rainfall (amt and pattern) in the areas where this was being done?

Steve Vanek
Cornell University

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Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002
From: Douglas Wholey
Subject: RE: Green manures in Peru
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu

Hi Roland,

These are the pro-poor types of technologies that IFAD is looking for - keep 'em coming.

Regards,

Doug Wholey
IFAD

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Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
From: Stephen G. Sherwood
Subject: Re: Green manures in Peru

Dieudonne,

Tarwi usually is: Lupinus mutabilis, Sweet If you would like further information, I think you can find links at: www.condesan.org or www.cipotato.org

Steve

Stephen Sherwood
IPM and Participatory Training Specialist
Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP)
Quito, Ecuador