Lentil (Masur) – Lens culinaris Medic.
Importance
- Second most important rabi pulse after chickpea in India.
- Low input requiring, drought-tolerant pulse for marginal lands.
- Food + Fodder crop (haulms rich in protein).
- Major global producers: India, Canada, Turkey, Syria, Nepal, Bangladesh.
- Improves soil fertility: N fixation 30–40 kg/ha, increases soil organic matter.
- Pulse Revolution (NFSM–Pulses) → lentil area expanding in Eastern India.
Origin
- Near East / Mediterranean region (Southwest Asia – Syria, Turkey).
- Domestication: ~8,000 years ago.
Nutritional Value
- Protein: 22–24%
- Carbohydrates: ~60%
- Fat: 3%
- Minerals: Ca (56 mg/100 g), Fe (7 mg/100 g), P (300 mg/100 g)
- Vitamins: Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin
- High digestibility → preferred for children, old & sick people.
Area & Production (India)
- Area: ~1.5–1.7 m ha
- Production: ~1.1–1.3 m tonnes
- Yield: 700–900 kg/ha (avg.)
Major States
- Area: MP > UP > Bihar > WB > Rajasthan
- Production: MP > UP > Bihar > WB
Botanical Description
- Family: Leguminosae (Papilionaceae)
- Type: Cool-season, self-pollinated, C3 plant
- Plant: Erect, bushy, 25–40 cm tall
- Root: Tap root with nodules
- Flower: Small, white/blue, self-fertile
- Pod: Flat, short, 1–2 seeds
- Seed: Lens-shaped, brown/red/orange
Classification
- Macrosperma type – Bold seed, long duration, high yield.
- Microsperma type – Small seed, short duration, early maturing.
Agronomic Practices
Aspect | Details |
Season | Rabi crop (Nov–March) |
Seedbed | Well-pulverized, fine tilth, 2–3 ploughings |
Optimum Sowing Time | Mid-Oct to Mid-Nov (best after rice harvest) |
Seed Rate | 30–40 kg/ha (broadcast) |
Spacing | 25–30 × 10 cm |
Depth | 3–4 cm |
Fertilizer | 20–25 kg N + 40–60 kg P₂O₅ + 20 kg K₂O + 20 kg S /ha |
Biofertilizer | Rhizobium + PSB seed inoculation |
Irrigation | Mostly rainfed; 1 irrigation at flowering–pod filling critical |
Duration | 100–120 days (microsperma earlier) |
Yield | 10–12 q/ha (rainfed), 15–18 q/ha (irrigated) |
Cropping Systems
- Intercropping: Lentil + Linseed / Mustard / Wheat (paired rows).
- Sequential cropping: Rice–Lentil, Maize–Lentil.
- Relay cropping (Paira/Utera): Sowing lentil in standing rice before harvest (popular in Bihar, WB, Chhattisgarh).
Weed Management
- Slow initial growth → vulnerable to weeds.
- Critical period: 25–40 DAS.
- Methods:
- 1–2 hand weedings (25 & 45 DAS).
- Pendimethalin (1.0 kg a.i./ha PE) or Oxyfluorfen.
Varieties;
- Microsperma (small-seeded, early) Pusa-6, Pant L-406, Pant L-639, IPL-81, DPL-15.
- Macrosperma (bold-seeded); Pusa-4076, K-75 (Malika), Sehore 74-3, PL-234.
- Wilt/Rust resistant; Pusa Vaibhav, IPL-81, Pant L-639.
Physiology & Special Points
- Photoperiod sensitive: Long-day plant but grown in short winter days.
- Critical stage for water stress: Flowering–pod filling.
- Self-pollinated, cleistogamous flowers.
- Sensitive to waterlogging, tolerant to drought.
- Paira cropping exploits residual moisture after rice.
- Seed coat color (red, brown, orange) – market classes.
- Protein quality: Deficient in sulfur amino acids (methionine, cysteine).
Quick Facts for NET/ARS
- Origin: Near East / Mediterranean
- Chromosome No.: 2n = 14
- Pollination: Self-pollinated
- Protein: 22–24%
- Critical irrigation: Flowering–pod filling
- Seed rate: 30–40 kg/ha
- Critical weed-free period: 25–40 DAS
- Cropping system: Rice–Lentil, Paira cropping
- India: Largest producer globally (~25% share)
- Limiting factor: Sensitive to waterlogging
