Effect of plant population on the yield and yield components of lentils (Lens culinaris L.): A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the post-graduate diploma in Agricultural Science in the University of Canterbury

Abstract

Two lentil cultivars were sown on October 4, 1984 at 50, 75, 110 and 257 plants m⁻² for cv. Titore (small- s' eeded), and 50, 70, 96 and 213 plants m⁻² for cv. Laird (large-seeded) to determine optimum plant population for spring-sown lentils. Titore showed a linear increase in seed yield m⁻² compared with a quadratic response by Laird with increased plant population. Highest seed yields of 118 and 230 g m⁻² were obtained for Laird and Titore respectively at their highest populations. Titore averaged a seed yield of 175 g with a harvest index of 49% compared with 96 g m⁻² for Laird with a harvest index of 35%. Plant population did not change the harvest index. The higher seed yield in Titore than Laird was associated with 27 and 100 per cent increases respectively in branches and pods plant⁻¹ . Increasing population decreased the yield components except mean seed weight which was 22 and 30 mg at the lowest populations of Titore and Laird respectively, while it increased significantly up to 25 and 63 mg at the highest population