AGR 301 :: Lecture 06 :: LENTIL Lens culinaris

  1. Importance
    1. Consumed as dry seed
    2. In India as flour, dal (boiled, smashed in to soup), several snacks and sweets
    3. Rich source of ca, phosphorous and iron
    4. Protein 24-26%
    5. Also rich in vitamins
  2. Global area production
    1. 5% of pulses
    2. 3.3 million ha &
    3. 2.9 million t
  3. Predominantly grown in Asia (80%)
  4. Also grown in N & E Africa, N-C America, S. Europe

       

Area in India


State

Area

Production

t/ha

UP

0.55

0.45

0.81

MP

0.49

0.24

0.48

Bihar

0.17

0.10

0.58

WB

0.05

0.04

0.84

Rajasthan

0.01

0.03

1.01

All India

1.34

0.88

0.66
  1. Origin
    • Egypt is its origin. It is grown in Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Syria
    • Broadly classified as microsperma and macrosperma
      • Microsperma are predominantly cultivated in India
      • Macrosperma are large sized grains cultivated in Mediterranean region
    • To mention some varieties in India
      • Pant L 406, 639, Pant L 4
      • DPL 15 and DPL 62
  2. Climate

            As the crop requires very cool climate it is cultivated in winter season. It can tolerate severe winter and frost condition also.  

  • Soil
  • The suitable soil types are alluvial are black cotton soils.
  • Varieties
  • Pusa-1, Pusa-4, Pusa-6, Pusa-206, Pant-209, T-36, B-77, Pant L-639.
  • Cultivation practises
  • Lentil is grown as second crop after rice. The seeds are also sown broadcast in standing rice crop without any field preparation.
  • Seeds and sowing
  • The seeds are sown in lines at 20 -30 am apart using 30 -50kg seed/ha.
  • Fertilizer management
  • The crop may be grown on residual fertility. Application of  15 kg N and 40 kg P2o5 per hectare gives better yield.
  • Water management
  • If there is no winter rain one or two light irrigation at flowering and grain filling stages are given.
  • Yield
  • The crop produces 8 – 9 quintals/ha under rainfed and 18-20 quintals/ha under irrigated condition with god fertilizer management.

Multiple choice questions

  1. Centre of origin of Lentil  is ___________
    a. America                            b. S. Africa                  c. Mediterranean region
  2. The inflorescence in lentil is  ________
    a. Raceme                            b. Spikelets                 c. Panicle
  3. The recommended seed rate for lentil is  _________kg/ha
    a. 8-10                                   b. 75-100                     c. 30-40
  4. Lentil crop needs
    a. Cool & dry climateb. Warm & humidc. Dry & hot climate
  5. The row to row spacing by pora method of sowing of lentil is_______cm
    a. 30                                      b. 10                            c. 50
  6. The row to row spacing for late sowing of lentil is_______cm
    a. 50                                      b. 20                              c. 30
  7. Lentil contains about _______% protein
    a. 20                                     b. 25                            c. 10
  8. Weed in lentil can be controlled by applying
    a. 2,4-D                                 b. Fluchloralin           c. both
  9. The insect pod borer is commonly found on
    a. Wheat                                b. Lentil                      c. Maize
  10. Lentil belongs to family
    a. Leguminoceae                  b. Linaceae                 c. Tiliaceae
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