Influence of row spacing and seed rate on seed yield of lentil (Lens culinaris) under different sowing dates

A field experiment was conducted on sandy-loam soil of Gurdaspur during the winter season (rabi) of 1998– 2000 to study the effect of different sowing dates, row spacings and seed rates on productivity of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). There was a significant reduction in seed yield with delay in sowing from 10 November to 10 December. Lentil sown on 10 November (14.6 q/ha) outyielded the crop sown on 25 November and 10 December by a margin of 12.8% and 90.1% respectively. The crop sown on 10 November recorded higher net income (Rs 1,826/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (0.23) than 25 November-sown crop which in turn recorded Rs 5,797/ha higher net returns and 0.75 higher benefit: cost ratio. Row spacing of 20 cm (12.3 q/ha) resulted in 4.2% and 9.5% more seed yield than closer (17.5 cm) and wider (22.5 cm) row spacings respectively. Row spacing of 20 cm recorded Rs 680 and Rs 1,047/ha higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio to the tune of 0.10 and 0.12 over row spacings of 17.5 cm and 22.5 cm respectively. Seed rate of 37.5 kg/ha gave 8.2% more seed yield than 45 kg seed/ha which in turn recorded 5.4% more seed yield than 50 kg seed/ha. Similarly, seed rate of 37.5 kg/ha recorded higher net income and benefit: cost ratio than higher seed rates. Significantly higher mean seed yield was obtained in lentil sown on 10 November at 20 cm row spacing (15.7q/ha) and that sown on 10 November using 37.5 kg seed/ha (15.9 q/ha). Seed yield (13.6 q/ha) of lentil sown at row spacing of 20 cm using 37.5 kg seed/ha was significantly higher than all other combinations of seed rates and row spacings.