Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation during vegetative and grain filling of lentil (Lens culinaris medic.) as affected by nitrogen rates

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the effect of different levels of nitrogen (N) on the growth, yield and the N accumulation of lentil plants grown under rain-fed conditions. The two-year field experiments with lentil were arranged in a randomised complete block design. Nitrogen was applied at four rates (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1) and all of the plots received half of the N rates before sowing in October and the remaining N rate in spring. The plants were harvested in the following stages: the first multifoliate leaf unfolding at the fifth node (V5) full seed or seed on nodes 10-13 that fill pod cavities (R6) and maturity (R8). The dry weight and N concentration of the shoot (leaf+stem), pod wall, and seed were then measured. It has been found that N application significantly affected the lentil characteristics. The maximum biomass accumulation and N accumulation were obtained at R6, and the N fertiliser had a positive effect on the seed weight and N accumulation. It can be suggest that 20 kg N ha-1 will increase the per-plant dry matter and N accumulation of the seeds under rain-fed conditions.