Agricultural technology for growing lentils seeds
Lentils are an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the legume family. Lentils are a valuable crop that is used as food in the form of beans and also for animal feed.
Lentils can be grown in a variety of climate zones, but they grow best in temperate regions.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a lentil variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger and tastier beans are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller beans.
- Maturing period. Lentils are early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Early-ripening lentil varieties are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a lentil variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Lentils are an unpretentious crop, but they prefer fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Lentil seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Lentils are a moisture-loving crop, so they need to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Lentils are ready for harvesting when the beans are fully ripe and have acquired their characteristic color. Early-ripening lentil varieties are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, and late-ripening in September.
Lentil beans are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store beans in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing lentils
- To obtain an earlier harvest, lentils can be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of lentils, they can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect lentils from pests and diseases, they can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing lentils, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.
Lentils can be grown in a variety of climate zones, but they grow best in temperate regions.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a lentil variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger and tastier beans are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller beans.
- Maturing period. Lentils are early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Early-ripening lentil varieties are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a lentil variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Lentils are an unpretentious crop, but they prefer fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Lentil seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Lentils are a moisture-loving crop, so they need to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Lentils are ready for harvesting when the beans are fully ripe and have acquired their characteristic color. Early-ripening lentil varieties are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, and late-ripening in September.
Lentil beans are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store beans in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing lentils
- To obtain an earlier harvest, lentils can be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of lentils, they can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect lentils from pests and diseases, they can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing lentils, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.