Abstract

Muehlbauer, F.J., R.J. Summerfield, W.J. Kaiser, et al. 1997. Principles and Practice of Lentil Production. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, ARS–141, 26 pp.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) has not been researched as extensively as many other pulse (grain legume) crops. Until recently, most lentil cultivars had been developed by pureline selection from local germplasm collections. However, breeding programs have been established at several centers and have been successful in developing improved cultivars from hybridization and selection. The large, international, and multidisciplinary crop improvement program based at ICARDA in Syria has strengthened regional and national programs in many countries. While these resources provide opportunities for research and development on a far greater scale than in the past, there remain many researchers who are unfamiliar with the crop and many farmers who do not fully appreciate the constraints that must be overcome if yields are to be stabilized and improved. This publication describes various aspects of the crop, reviews the culture of lentils in the United States and worldwide, and advocates greater cooperation, collaboration, and communication among researchers, breeders, administrators, producers, and the various sectors of industry in general.

Keywords: grain legume, Lens culinaris Medik., lentil, pulse crops.

This publication reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain recommendations for their use or imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate state or Federal agencies or both before they can be recommended.

While supplies last, single copies of this publication may be obtained at no cost from Dr. F.J. Muehlbauer, USDA–ARS, Room 303W, Johnson Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164–6434.

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Issued January 1998

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