EFFECT OF INOCULATION, NITROGEN AND WEED MANAGEMENT ON LENTIL (LENS-CULINARIS)

An experiment was conducted during the winters of 1988-89 and 1989-90 to study the influence of inoculation, nitrogen and weed management on yield of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus). N @ 20 kg/ha + Rhizobium inoculation gave higher seed yield than 20 kg N/ha or inoculation alone. During 1989-90 inoculation alone yielded significantly higher seed yield over 20 kg N/ha. However, during 1988-89, 20 kg N/ha and 20 kg N/ha + inoculation did not differ significantly. Unweeded control gave the lowest seed yield. Yield increase in hand-weeded or herbicides-applied plots were significantly higher than in the control. All herbicides performed equally in increasing the seed yield in both the years. Higher weed-control efficiency was recorded with hand-weeding which was followed by herbicides. Herbicides and nitrogen and inoculation interaction was significant during 1989-90.