(See Table 1 for performance data of these varieties.). Lentil should be seeded in late April to early Mail when small grain is being planted. tall. deep, but this can be increased to 2 1/2 in. Lentil should be swathed when there is sufficient moisture to toughen the pods. Harvest To Table Three common lentil varieties are flat brown ones, small yellow ones, and large pea-shaped ones. Oplinger1, L.L. Mildew may attack lentils that are too closely planted. For the latest information on new and old variety performance, contact your local extension office or crop consultant. A dry field surface which is level, firm and free of stones is necessary to reduce harvesting difficulties. Lentils have no serious disease problems. Keep the soil where lentils grow evenly moist. They tend to spread and need a reasonable amount of space. Innoculate lentil seeds before planting with. Plant 4 to 8 lentils per household member. Beluga: This black variety got its name because it looks a bit like caviar. Add aged compost to planting beds before sowing; this provides most nutrients needed during the growing season. Mechanical: Harrowing or rotary hoeing fields after emergence is recommended only if there is a serious weed problem. Lentils have been grown extensively in the semi-arid parts of the world, where they have slightly lower yields, but good seed quality. The yield used to calculate the example budgets was 1,000 pounds per acre. Lentils require and average rainfall of 10 to 12 inches per year but are fairly tolerant of drought although yield will be reduced. If applied as starter, this material should be applied adjacent to but not in contact with the seed. Lentils prefer loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Lentils grow well in regions where there is little rainfall. Lentil can be used as a green manure crop and one particular Canadian variety, Indianhead, provides a large amount of fixed nitrogen (estimated to be 20 lb/acre). Thus lentil plants were higher than control plants 43% in plots treated with GA 3, while they were lower 34% in plots treated with Prohex-Ca or Topflor (Fig. Natural air drying has advantages over heated air, but proper design of the system is necessary. J. Grain Legumes As Alternative Crops. Depending on the weather, windrowed lentil may take a week or more to dry down. It has been grown in that area since the 1930s as a rotation crop with wheat. Where to Plant Lentils. leaves often fall from plants, leaving plants defoliated except for the youngest leaves at the top of the plant. tall and actively growing. Sow lentil seeds 1 t0 1½ inch deep, deeper if the soil is dry. 1980. Avoid fababean, fieldbean, field pea, mustard, canola, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, sugar beet and potato in too close a rotation, because these crops are susceptible to the same diseases. Chemical: Roundup (glyphosate) can be used as a preplow treatment in the fall or spring to control quack grass. Yields vary with variety, management and environmental conditions. Corn and small grains are good rotation crops in conjunction with lentil. As with other specialty crops, growers should always locate markets and delivery points and determine a suitable price before planting a new crop. The number of seeds per pod remained unaffecte d by the disease. If lentil seed is harvested at moisture contents greater than 14%, it will have to be dried to prevent heating and molding in storage. Kaminski1, K.A. Vigorously growing lentil plants with adequate space will produce two or more primary shoots from the base of the stem. Lentil should be seeded early in the season when the soil temperature reaches at least 40 F. Lentil can tolerate freezing temperatures and young plants have been reported to withstand temperatures as low as 25 F. Later seeding dates produce shorter plants and late maturing pods which increase harvest losses. Unlike their wild ancestors, domesticated lentil crops have indehiscent pods and non-dormant seeds. Lentil (Lens culinaris) is an established, high value pulse crop, first grown commercially in Australia during the early 1990s. As for most legumes, sulfur needs are medium to high, and responses may be seen on light colored sandy soils where manure has not been applied. It fills well in restricted precipitation regions of the world. It may have been introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. They are used in soups, stews, casseroles, and salad dishes. Windrowing can be a very slow and difficult operation. The yield has gotten pretty much nothing research consideration regarding improve its yield and quality. However, if available nitrogen is low (organic matter less than 2%), an early nitrogen supplement of about 30 to 40 lb/acre is required to sustain the young plants until root nodulation develops. 2011. •Early planting of lentil varieties is critical for maxi-mum economic yields. Pick-up reels, lifter guards, floating or flexible headers, and air reels can be added to harvest equipment to ease the handling of short-statured, tangled or lodged crops. Propagation Lentils are propagated by seed and are either sown by broadcasting or by drilling in rows. Uneven surfaces, large clods, rocks or protruding crop residue can interfere with seed placement and complicate later swathing and combining. Container and Pot Sizes: How Much Soil Do I Need? This means that low cut is required in order to minimize losses. High humidity and excessive rainfall during the season encourages vegetative growth, which prevents good yield and can reduce seed quality. July 23-24, 1987. If the field is uniformly mature, it is possible to combine lentil directly. However, the main contribution to seed yield is made by secondary (aerial) branches that arise from the uppermost nodes of the main stem just below the first flowering node. Lentil does not tolerate flooded or waterlogged soils, and does best on deep, sandy loam soils high in phosphorus and potassium. Proceedings of the Agronomy Society of New Zealand 19 . Plant lentils with potatoes, cucumbers, summer savory. Table 1: Characteristics and seed yield of Lentil varieties. Lentils can be started indoors 2 to 4 weeks before setting in the garden. Lentil is an excellent supplement to cereal grain diets because of its good protein/carbohydrate content. Dried, shelled lentils can be stored in a cool, dry place for 10 to 12 months. Add aged compost to planting beds before sowing. Well in limited rainfall areas of the first agricultural crops, grow more than years! 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