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Effects of Between- and Within-row Spacing on Components of Lentil Yield¹

Lentils (Lens esculenta Moench.) are one of the major cash crops grown in the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington. Since their introduction into the region little research has been concerned with improvement of crop production. Therefore, components of seed yields in lentils were studied to estimate effects of within- and between-row plant spacings. Small, medium and large plant types were studied. Row spacings of 15 and 30 cm were used, with 1.5, 3.0, and 12.0 cm spacings between plants within rows. The effects of spacings on seed size, branching, height, leal-area index, canopy closure, and interception of light energy were measured and compared with seed yields. In general, lentil yields were greater at the narrow (15-cm) between-row spacing and at the 1.5 cm spacing between plants within row. Approximately 20% of the large and small plant type lines closed their canopies at the 30 cm between-row spacing. The medium plant type lines developed partially closed canopies. Closed canopies intercepted about 90% of the incident light energy; the open canopies intercepted about 47%. This indicated the need for narrow within- and between-row spacing. The higher seed yields appeared to be related to leaf area and branching, of which canopy closure is a function. The percentage of light intercepted at the 15 cm spacing between rows was not measured.

Key Words: Leaf-area index • Canopy closure • Light interception

² Research Plant Pathologist, PSRD, ARS, USDA, Pullman, Wash., and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kans. 66502 (formerly Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Washington State University, Pullman 99163).

Received for publication January 20, 1972.