Effect of Phosphorus Fertilization on the Growth and Productivity of Some Lentil Varieties (Lens culinaris L)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Abo-Jarash farm, faculty of agriculture, Damascus university during the growing season 2017/2018 to study the effect of phosphorus fertilization rates on the growth and productivity of some lentil varieties, the experiment was designed according to split plot design, where lentil varieties; Ideb5, Idleb3, Idleb1 and Ebla1 were allocated to main plots, phosphorus fertilization rates were allocated to subplot, with three replications.

Statistical analysis results showed genetic variation among studied lentil varieties in their response to phosphorus fertilization rates, The variety Idleb5 recorded significantly the highest mean values of the traits: plant height, leaf area index, plant dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, seed yield per unit area (35.17  cm, 3.05 , 12.17  g.plant^-1,  23.09 pod.plant^-1, 65.84 seeds. plant^-1, 1448 kg.ha^-1 respectively) comparing to other varieties. The results also revealed that phosphorus fertilization rates of 45 kg P₂O₅. ha^-1 registered significantly the highest mean values of the parameters; plant height, leaf area index, plant dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, seed yield per unit area (34.97 , 3.32, 10.67 g. plant^-1, 24.38  pod. plant^-1, 67.50  seeds. plant^-1, 1396 kg.ha^-1 respectively) compared to other studied phosphorus fertilization rates. The results of interaction between lentil varieties and phosphorus fertilization rates showed that growing lentil variety Idleb-5 with phosphorus fertilization rate of 45 kg. ha^-1 registered significantly the highest mean values of mentioned parameters (37.65 , 3.56, 13.93g. plant^-1, 27.90 pod. plant^-1,75.85 seeds. plant^-1,1578 kg. ha^-1 respectively).