Lentils cultivation

Lens culinaris growing tips

LENTILS CULTIVATION – HOW TO GROW LENTILS

dibujo flor

Characteristics of lentils

Annual herb up to 75 cm. Stems angular, thin, bearing a great hairiness. Leaves compound, alternate, provided up to 7 pairs of oval leaflets without petiole. Flowers of different colors (white, pink, purple, etc.) gathered in groups of up to 4 on long stems. Fruits in pods of between 1.5 and 2 cm in length within which are two flattened seeds about a cm wide, also called lentils, that are edible.

irrigation

Lentils watering

Lentils only need a certain amount of moisture when planted so they use to be planted after the soil is moist, usually taking advantage of seasonal rains.

Subsequently, they adapt to any type of weather and can withstand virtually semi-desert environment with rainfall below 300 liters per year or hold up nearly 900 liters of annual precipitation.

Lentils however do not stand low permeability soil with and poor drainage, since, when planted in flooded soils, they can rot easily.

Lentils climate and location

Lentils are a cool weather crop. They do Not support extremely hot or extremely cold climates. they are prone to frost. At least, they need a frost-free period of about four months for them to produce crops.

Lentils are sown in late winter in colder climates and in autumn in the warmer ones. Harvesting takes place in summer, during the months of June or July. In colder areas, they can be harvested in August.

Lentils use

The lentil plant is used to produce edible seeds (lentils). Unlike other legumes, lentil plant is not used as animal fodder. It leaves are scattered on the ground so they can incorporate the nitrogen surplus of flowering and fruiting.

Lentils, like other legumes, are able to use the nitrogen by means of profiting the one produced in symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria that produces root nodules after fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere. For this reason, in places where no legumes have been planted previously, it is convenient to introduce products containing these bacteria or impregnate the seeds with them.

For these microorganisms can perform the required function a suitable temperature and an adequate humidity is needed. A too dry soil at planting time, too high a temperature or exposure to heat, wind and dryness of soaked seeds can kill and prevent the proper development of plants.

dibujo pala

Lentils maintenance

Lentils tolerate herbs badly so they must be removed to avoid them to compete. The best way to do this is to apply the necessary measures to eliminate them with other previous crops in rotation with this plant. The main herbs that can compete mainly are: country thistle (Cirsium arvense) or grass (Agropyron repens) that must be cleaned thoroughly.

It should be noted that lentils do not hold up well herbicides so, please, consult a specialist in the area if the appropriate herbicide to eliminate weeds may be too aggressive for the plant. Whenever possible, it is best to weed manually.

saco

Lentils: types of soil and fertilizer

The preferred soil for lentils is a sandy soil, slightly compacted with good drainage, with a pH between 6 and 8. The best soils are those which are located on a slope which facilitates drainage. Lentils do not tolerate saline soils or flooded ones. The latter will produce in many plant root diseases.

Lentils do not generally need any nitrogen since this is obtained from their roots nodules as long as the bacteria that produce it have had an adequate development. A 70% of the required nitrogen is produced in this way, and the remaining one is obtained directly from the soil. When there is not enough bacteria have lentils do not have enough with the nitrogen remaining in the field, and if no additional nitrogen is supplied in a proportion of about 20 kg per hectare, plants turn yellow and stop producing.

Besides nitrogen lentils need phosphorus for good root growth and for proper nitrogen fixation. Phosphates can be applied at planting at the rate of about 20 kg / ha. Potassium is also suitable for growth. Apply potassium oxide (K 2 0) at a rate of about 20 kg / ha. It is convenient to perform a test to see if the soil is deficient in sulfur. Apply, in this case, about 11 kg / ha.

Lentils: Pests and diseases.

Lentils are quite resistant to diseases compared to other legumes. The main diseases and pests that affect them are:

Main lentils diseases:

  • Anthracnose: It manifests itself as gray spots on leaves and stems. It is a disease caused by the fungus Ascochyta pisi mainly affecting peas but it can also affect other legumes. The infection starts at the lower parts of the stem but it rises to the top of the plant producing leaves falling or spots on pods. It is a fungus that takes advantage of excess of humidity and hot weather. Its treatment requires the application of fungicides.
  • Ascochyta: It is produced by the fungus Ascochyta fabae that appears in the stubble or infected seeds and it is activated by the rainy weather and warm summer. It produces white or purple spots on leaves, that become black as the disease progresses. This fungus weakens the plant which leads flowers to fall or seeds to blacken. To avoid it, you should use trusted seeds. Try to plant when conditions are suitable. You can also use a right foliar fungicide. Among the current techniques recommend we can apply crop rotation every four years as the best system to eliminate the disease without using fungicides.
  • Gray Mold: A disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea that can affect any part of the plant producing lesions initially dark green on pods and leaves that become gray. The leaves or flowers may fall. The stems are covered with a gray patina which produces the death of the plant. Infected seeds are wrinkled and generally do not germinate. In case they do, they will produce plants with little force, yellowish, that will die within a few days. The spores of the fungus, spread by wind, can infect neighboring fields.
  • It very difficult to eradicate this disease because the spore are always in the soil in a greater or lesser extent and can develop when the required moisture and heat are provided. This disease affects plants such as peas, lentils, sunflowers, beans, etc.. The best way to control it is to plant unfinfected seeds and to grow higher varieties so they can be less in contact with moist soil. Specific fungicides may also be used.
  • Rust: A disease caused by the fungus Uromyces fabae. It mainly produces brown spots on the leaves, resulting in leaves or flowers falling or fruit loss. It is a disease that takes advantage of the high humidity. The best way to avoid it is using higher bearing varieties, plant at a greater distance for ventilation or apply rotations with other plants for periods of three years.
  • Mycoses: A disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. It is the most common disease affecting lentils in Asia. It is a type of fungus that penetrates the roots and subsequently affect the whole plant. Plants lose color, wither and die.
  • Mycobacterium insidiosum: It is is a bacterium that attacks these plants.

Main lentils pests:

  • Pea Aphids (Acyrthosiphum pisum) They are the major pest of many legumes including lentils. They can directly damage the plant by feeding on it. This makes the plants to lose strength and become damaged or this can be the means of infection of other diseases like mosaic virus. Insecticide spraying is required to treat the infection.
  • Weevils: There are a number of beetles whose larvae feed on the seeds and thereby inflict holes and spoil them. Among the most prominent in temperate climates, we must point out lentil weevils (Bruchus lentis. Brujus rufimanus). In tropical and subtropical climates we can find the bean weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis), cowpea weevils a specific type of weevil from Africa that has been established in most tropical and subtropical countries, affecting Brazil and Mexico recently. (Callosobruchus maculatus) or pinto weevils (Zabrotes subfasciatus) constituting an established pest in South America. Such tropical weevils can not live in temperate countries since the larvae die from the cold in winter.
  • Bugs: The bugs of the genus Lygus (Lygys spp.) are a common pest of lentils and other plants in the United States. They produce lesions as sunken pots in seeds. Visual inspection is required to see these insects under the leaves. In this case one must apply the appropriate insecticide.
  • Other pests that may affect them are:
  • Snails and slugs
  • Larvae of various moths: In tropical and subtropical regions, larvae of various moths (Cydia nigricana, Agriotis spp., or Heliothis armigera) and other insects like white ants (Clotermes sp.)

punto rojo More information on lentils.

This article was endorsed by Julián Masats - Technical agricultural engineer specialized in horticulture and gardening.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

22 April, 2019

Other interesting articles

This material is for informational purposes only. In case of doubt, consult the doctor.
"Botanical-online" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication.