Effect of soil-moisture regime, seed rate and phosphorus fertilizer on growth and yield attributes and yield of late-sown lentil (Lens culinaris)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1984-85 and 1985-86 at New Dehi on a sandy-loam soil to study the effect of soil moisture, seed r e and fertilizer on yield of Pant L 406 lentil (Lens culinarir Medikus). The soil was low in organic carbon and available P and medium in cumulative pan evaporation CPE) available K, with pH 7.3. Irrigation at 0.60 irrigation water depth : : ratio (2 irrigations) produced taller plants with profuse branching and root nodulation and had more dry matter, podslplant and grain and straw yields compared with irrigation at 0.35 IW : CPE ratio and no irrigation. During 1984-85 only 1,000-grain weight and harvest index also increased by irrigation. Higher seed rate (60 kglha) though adversely affected growth, yield attributes and nodulation, recorded higher grain and straw yields compared with lower seed rate (40 kgha). Further, the magnitude of increase in grain yield with 60 kg seedha with post-planting irrigation was greater. P application improved the growth and yield atlributes, nodulation, grain and straw yields and harvest index. Phosphobacterial inoculation alone or in combination with 35 kg P,O,/ha showed positive response in terms of dry matter. nodulation and grain yield. The grain yield increased with increasing levels of P,O,.up to 70 kgha. The response to phosphobacterial inoculation alone could be observed with post-plantmg lrngations only.