Effect of sowing date and variety on yield and weed populations in a lentil–barley mixture

Abstract

SUMMARYThe present study examined variation in sowing date on lentils (Lens culinaris) in a standard lentil–barley (Hordeum vulgare) mixed cropping system in the temperate climate of central Europe to determine the effect on crop yield and weed control. A 2-year (2009/10) field experiment was carried out at the organic research station Kleinhohenheim (KH) and at the conventional research station Oberer Lindenhof (OLI) of the University Hohenheim, southwest Germany. The crop was sown at three dates in the period from March to May. Grain yield was significantly higher at the earliest sowing both for lentils (3·0 t/ha at KH, 2·4 t/ha at OLI) and barley (1·2 t/ha at KH, 2·6 t/ha at OLI). Weed biomass at KH increased significantly with delayed sowing and was independent of lentil genotype, whereas sowing date had no significant effect on overall weed biomass production at OLI. Unlike weed biomass, weed density generally decreased significantly with delayed sowing at OLI. The results indicate that early sowing can increase the yield of lentils, and can be used as an indirect method of weed control in some organic farming systems.

Yield gap analysis extended to marketable grain reveals the profitability of organic lentil-spring wheat intercrops

“…Anicia in 2016 (3.11 t ha −1 ). This yield is consistent with that (3.0 t ha −1 ) observed by Wang et al (2013) in an experiment conducted with cv. Anicia in organic farming in Germany without water stress.…”

“…This highlights that spring wheat added at a low density (17% of sole crop density) was still dense enough to decrease the associated lentil yield, illustrating strong interspecific competition of spring wheat with lentil. Similar trends were observed in several previous studies of lentil-wheat intercrops (Akter et al 2004;Carr et al 1995;Wang et al 2013). Actual yield of lentil in sole crop and intercrop was significantly higher in 2016 than in 2015 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) ( Fig.…”

“…In many studies, including several focusing on lodging and economic performance, lentil was hand-harvested. By not considering potential grain loss due to mechanical harvest, however, these studies may have overestimated yields, as mentioned by Wang et al (2013), especially in areas where lentil would likely be mechanically harvested. Knowledge is lacking about effects of mechanical harvest with a combine harvester on sole cropped and intercropped lentil.…”

Relay sowing of lentil (Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris) to intensify rice-based cropping

“…In turn, the timing of the harvest of monsoonal rice and underlying soil moisture content determine when the land is available to sow the following lentil crop. Time of sowing is very important for lentil growth to maximize yield (Silim et al 1991;Miah & Rahman 1993;Wang et al 2013) and it differs with the weather and between locations (Ali et al 2009). Ali et al (1993) demonstrated in multiple lentil sowingdate trials in India that late sowing had a severe yield penalty.…”

“…The monsoonal rice harvest period is between November and early December, often resulting in a delay in lentil sowing of up to 3 weeks to allow for optimum moisture conditions and land preparation (Ali et al 2005). However, as sowing date is critical for successful lentil cropping (Silim et al 1991;Wang et al 2013), this delay can result in reduced yields.…”