Review on Agronomic Practices for Improving Production and Productivity of Lentil in Ethiopia

Abstract

Lentil is among the most important cool season food legumes cultivated in rotation with cereal crops in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Poor agronomic practices are among the major constraints limiting the production and productivity of this crop. Improving agronomic practices such as seedbed preparation, sowing date, seed rate, weed control and pest management will enhance the production and productivity of lentil. Concerning sowing date, it varies with the pattern and total amount of rainfall, altitude, soil type and maturity period of the specific crop cultivar but in general, late June to mid July is the recommended time for planting lentil in the central highlands of Ethiopia. A seed rate of 50-65 kg ha^-1 for small seeded lentil, 65-80 kg ha^-1 for medium and up to 120 kg ha^-1 for large seeded lentil cultivars were recommended in Ethiopia. For lentil, two hand-weeding within four to eight weeks after seedling emergence was recommended to control weed. Though not common practice, application of herbicides was also recommended for weed control in lentil.

Keywords: Agronomic practices, Cultivar, Ethiopia, Lentil