Soil tillage interval effect on the productivity and weed infestation of lentil (Lens culinaris Mediuks) in Ethiopia.

The investigation was undertaken to find out the effect of tillage intervals to reduce weed infestation and increase the seed yield of lentil. The field experiments were conducted at Ude and Dekebora on a farmer's field from 2018–2019. The experimental design was a split-plot with three replications. Main plot treatments were assigned the four tillage interval viz., T0, T10, T15, and T20 after the first plowing and subplot treatments were three lentil cultivars. Results showed that tillage interval had a significant effect on most measured traits both at Ude and Dekebora. Lentil cultivars were also a significant effect on phenology at Ude and only days to maturity at Dekebora. The number of seeds per pod and seed yield was affected by tillage and cultivars interaction at Dekebora. At Ude, seed yield was affected by the year × cultivars × tillage system. At Dekebora, seed yield was on average 50.7% more with soil tillage with a T15 combined with Alemaya cultivar compared to T0 with R-186 cultivar. At Ude, lentil seed yield was also 49.6% more soil tillage with T15 combined Alemaya cultivar in 2018 as compared to 2019 cropping season to that of T0 with R-186 cultivar. It was concluded that subsequent tillage operation carried at the right time beneficial effects on lentil productivity and reduced weed infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]