Sanjeev GuptaProject Coordinator

Technology Interventions for Increasing Lentil Production in

India

All India Coordinated Research Project on MULLaRP (Mungbean, Urdbean, Lentil, Lathyrus, Rajmash

and Peas)

Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur

State Area (Lakh ha)

Production (Lakh tonnes)

Productivity (kg/ha)

Uttar Pradesh

5.7 5.0 881

Madhya Pradesh

6.2 2.3 371

Bihar 1.70 1.7 1019

West Bengal

0.60 0.41 695

Assam 0.23 0.11 502

Chattisgarh

0.15 0.05 336

India 15.6 10.6 678

Leading States in Lentil Production(2010-11)

Cropping system States

Fallow/ fodder sorghum-chickpea /lentil Bundelkhand region of U.P. & M.P.

Rice- Lentil/ chickpea/ fieldpea Eastern U.P., Bihar,

Lentil in Rice Fallows West Bengal, Assam, Eastern U.P., Chattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand

Lentil in Cropping Systems

Feature Eastern India Central India

Soil texture Deep alluvial and Calcareous

Vertisols develop cracks

Moisture availability Excessive Lack of moisture at planting

Cold Severe Mild to severe

Nutrient Deficiency P, Zn, B S, Zn, Mo

Areas East U.P., BiharW.Bengal, Assam, JharkhandOdisha

M.P., Chattisgarh

Lentil Cultivation in India

Constraints and Interventions

Constraints Interventions

Lack of suitable varieties Development of appropriate varieties

Poor crop establishment Tillage machines, sowing methods, timely planting, seed priming

Diseases (Rust, Wilt, Root rot)

Resistant cultivars, IPM Modules

Weed menace Use of Post-emergence herbicides

Terminal drought Early maturing cultivars

Poor microbial activity Seed treatment

Non availability of quality seeds

Seed systems

Poor TOT Innovative models

State Varieties

Uttar Pradesh Pant L 406, Malika (K 75), Lens 4076, DPL 62 (Sheri), Narendra Masoor 1, L 4147, IPL 81 (Noori), IPL 406, HUL 57, KLS 218, WBL 77, Pant L 6, Pant L 7

Bihar Pant L 406, PL 639, Malika (K 75), Arun (PL 77-12), NDL 2, WBL 58, HUL 57, KLS 218, WBL 77

Madhya Pradesh

Malika (K 75), Lens 4076, IPL 81 (Noori), JL 3, IPL 406, IPL 316

Chattisgarh JL3, DPL 62, IPL 81, L4076, IPL 316

High Yielding Varieties

• Short duration : IPL 81, JL1, JL3, KLS 218, WBL 77, Asha, Ranjan, HUL 57,Subrata

• Rice fallow : NDL 1, KLS 218, WBL 77, HUL 57• Large seeded : IPL 406, Sheri, JL 3, VL 507, L 4076, K 75 • Rust resistance : HUL 57, KLS 218, Narendra Masoor

1,Narendra Masoor 2, Pant L 4, Pant L 5, DPL 62

• Wilt resistance : DPL 62, JL 3

Varieties with specific features

System Varieties

Rice Fallow NDL 1, HUL 57, KLS 218, PL 639

Intercropping with Autumn Sugarcane

K-75, PL 639, NDL 1, DPL 62

Rainfed Bundel khand region

DPL 62, JL 3

Varieties for Specific Nitches

Production Technologies

Eastern U.P., Bihar- Second fortnight of NovemberM.P., Bundelkhand: First fortnight of OctoberChhattisgarh: Sowing depends on cessation of monsoon rain

and maturity of rice crop in utera system

Sowing and Seed Rate

Group Seed rate (kg/ha)

Additional Information

Bold seed 55-60 Seed rate to be enhanced by 10-25% in event of delayed sowing to enhance the plant population

In intercropping the seed rate to be decided according to proportionate area under each crop

Small seed 40-50

Seed Priming- a simple but effective trick

Soaking seeds in water for 6-8 hrs and sowing of primed seed at 8-10 days before harvest of rice

Improves germination, growth, plant stand and yield

Seed priming in potassium hydroxide solution (5%)

Seed priming in nutrient solution (0.01% ammonium molybdate)

Backstop Research

•Sowing methods for primed seed with minimum tillage

•Interaction between Molybednum in solution, Rhizobium and

seed priming in Acid soils

Fertilizer ApplicationFertilizer Application

Nutrients Fertilizer (kg/ha) Remarks

Major nutrients

18 kg N, 46 kg P2O5 , 20

kg K2O + 20 kg S /ha

•Soil application as basal placement is ideal.

•2% foliar application of Urea or DAP in rainfed conditions and rice fallows.

Micronutrients

• 25 kg Zn SO4/ha

• 10 kg borax/ha• 1-1.5 kg/ha ammonium

molybdate/ha

Micronutrients application in deficient areas based on soil test and deficiency symptoms.

The fertilizer application in intercropping should be based on proportionate area under each crop in the system.

Spray of 2% urea/ DAP @ pre-flowering stage

Backstop Research

•Nutrition formulation with micronutrients, growth hormones and PGPR

•Seed palleting with nutrients

Foliar Nutrition- a low cost effective intervention

Effective in both under relay cropping or zero tillage system

Variety (s) Percentage of wilt infestation Yield (kg/ha)Treated plot Untreated plot Treated Untreated

PL-6 04.00 09.00 15.60 14.20WBL-77 08.00 14.00 15.00 14.10HUL-57 16.00 24.00 14.40 13.70NDL-1 07.00 13.00 15.30 14.70Local 21.00 29.00 08.80 08.20

Seed Treatment – a promising way

Backstop Research•Biocompatibility with biofertilizers and Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas• Microbial characterization of selected rice fallow soils

Flower initiation and pod filling stages are critical for moisture stress.

Moisture stress throughout the crop cycle reduces yield by 50%

Two irrigations (about 140 mm depth of water) at flower initiation and pod filling stages

Water Management Crop Water requirement

Chickpea 120 – 190 mm

Lentil 100 – 120 mm

Field pea 120 – 140 mm

Rajmash 200 - 250 mm

Drainage channel 30 x 30 cm around the field

Managing problem of water stagnation in Rice- fallow fields

Pendimethalin 30 EC 1.0 kg/ha fb PE Quizalofop @ 50g/haPendimethalin 30 EC 1.0 kg/ha fb PE Quizalofop @ 50g/ha

Use of herbicides- an important intervention

Pendimethain 30EC 1.0 kg/ha + Imazethapyr 2EC @ 0.75-1.0 kg /ha Pendimethain 30EC 1.0 kg/ha + Imazethapyr 2EC @ 0.75-1.0 kg /ha Critical crop-weed competition period 30-60 DAS

Technology for Rice FallowsTechnology for Rice Fallows

• High yielding wilt and rust resistant varieties: KLS 218, HUL 57, NM 1, Pant L 639, Pant L 406

• Soaking seeds in water for 6-8 hrs (Seed priming)

• Sowing 6-8 days before harvest of rice

• Foliar spray of 2% urea/ DAP

• Yield gain: 35%

• About 5 lakh ha area can be brought under Utera system in Bihar, WB, Eastern UP, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh

830

1170

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Local varieties Improved varieties

(Kg/ha)

Lentil (170) FLDs

Slit till drill

Particulars Specification Field performance

Source of power 45 hp tractor Time, h/ha = 2.50

Type/no. of furrow openers

Slit and Straw cutters/07

Narrow shoe type/07

Fuel used, I/ha = 10.00

Row spacing, mm 230 Operational energy ,

MJ/ha = 565

Working width, mm 160 Cost of operation,

Rs/ha = 1000

Drive wheel Peg type – side mounted -

(A)Opening furrow, placing fertilizer, seeds and covering of seeds (B) Manual furrow opener (C) Manually operated IIPR No- Till Drill (D) Tractor Operated Happy Seeder

Mechanization Need

A

DC

B

Disease Pathogen Area of High Intensity

Wilt Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis

U.P., M.P., Bihar, Chhattisgarh

Rust Uromyces fabae Eastern U.P., Bihar

Collar rot Sclerotium rolfsii M.P., Chattisgarh

Major Diseases and High Disease Intensity Areas

Integrated Disease Management

• Before Sowing

– Deep summer ploughing– Selection of disease resistant varieties

• At the time of sowing:

– Timely sowing to avoid rust

– Seed treatment with Carbendazim + Thiram (1 + 2 g kg-1

seed), or Trichoderma (4 g) + carboxin (1 g) kg-1 seed

– Intercropping with linseed (1:1)

– Crop rotation with cereals for 3-5 years

• Standing crop:– Regular monitoring of the crop

– Foliar spray of dimethoate 0.03 % in case of aphid infestation

– Foliar spray of wettable sulphur (0.2-0.3%) or mancozeb (0.2%) against rust (Number of spray depends on the disease severity)

– Removal of diseased plant debris

Production

Lentil in rice-fallow