Effect of improved variety, fungicides and weedicides on growth and yield of lentil ( Lens esculenta Moench)

Abstract

Pulses are one of the major constituents in Indian foods, majority as a protein source. Today, the country produces 17.52MT of pulses, which is insufficient to meet our needs. This is being addressed by importing pulses from other countries. An investigation as On Farm Trial (OFT) was conducted on farmer’s field in Tal area of Patna district to evaluate efficiency of different varieties of lentil Crop, use of different fungicides and weedicides to control diseases and weed in lentil crop respectively, during the Rabi Season. IPL-407 was observed to be most suitable variety giving maximal yield (12.5 q/ha), which may be attributed to favorable growth and yield contributing characters (no. of branches/Plant, no. of pods/ plant, seed weight/pods).Again seed treatment with carbendazim, chlorpyriphos and Rhizobium culture and soil treatment with Trichoderma viridae followed by two alternate spray of copper hydroxide and hexaconazole was observed to increase crop yield significantly when compared to control(farmer’s practice) which may be because of reduced disease incidences in the crop. Even weed control by Pendimethalin and Imazethapyr resulted in significantly higher number of pod/plant, seed weight/pod and ultimately grain yield which may be attributed to higher weed control efficiency (82%). The farmers under test were satisfied with the varietal trial and technology of fungal disease and weed control practices in reducing diseases and weed infestation and ultimately improvement in grain yield of lentil.