Evaluation of lentil (Lens culinaris ) performance under different fertilizer application and irrigation regimes

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Published: Apr 20, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.65764/tjas.2025.267902
Keywords:
Leaf greenness Protein content Rainfed Soil amendment Water shortage

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Ahmed Bdaiwi Hussein
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh 5518779842, Iran
Mohsen Janmohammadi
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh 5518779842, Iran
Amin Abbasi
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh 5518779842, Iran
Asghar Ebadi-Segherloo
Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil 1136756199, Iran
Naser Sabaghnia
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh 5518779842, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: The scarcity of water resources in semi-arid regions necessities the use of climate-smart methods like supplemental irrigation and soil amendments. This research aimed to investigate the effects of different fertilizers under both rainfed and supplemental irrigation conditions on the growth and yield of lentil in northwest Iran.
Methodology: A split-plot experiment was conducted with three replications under field conditions. The main factor was irrigation regimes, including rainfed (R) and supplemental irrigation (SI). SI was applied during the tillering, flowering, and seed setting stages. The subplots were allocated to various fertilizers: 1- no-fertilizer application (control), 2- the application of 100% of the recommended dose of three essential macronutrients (NPK100), 3- the application of 50% of the recommended dose of NPK + 5 t ha-1 of cattle farmyard manure (NPK50+FYM5), 4- the application of 50% of the suggested dose of NPK + biofertilizer (NPK50+BI), 5- utilization of 10 t ha-1 of FYM (FYM10), and 6- the application of 20 t ha-1 of FYM (FYM20).
Main Results: SI significantly increased (P < 0.05) plant height (34.70 ± 3.03 cm), leaf greenness (48.45 ± 2.56 SPAD units), canopy width (20.58 ± 3.16 cm), biomass (0.97 ± 0.10 g), pod number (65.17 ± 5.51 pods per plant), and grain yield (7.59 ± 0.53 g) over the R conditions. The highest lateral and longitudinal canopy growth, as well as grain yield, were obtained by the application of FYM10, FYM20, and NPK100. The application of all doses of NPK fertilizer increased the leaf greenness (SPAD index). The highest grain yield was recorded with the application of FYM20, NPK100, and FYM10 under SI conditions.
Conclusions: SI enhanced the efficacy of chemical fertilizers and cattle farmyard manure. Consequently, it is crucial to applyorganic soil amendments and adhere to the suggested amounts of NPK, while also delivering three additional irrigations throughoutthe reproductive phases in the examined semi-arid agricultural zone.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 58 No. 4 (2025): October-December
Section
Research Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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