Spring Lentil (Indian Head)

Lentils is most commonly grown in low rainfall, cool temperate climates during the spring but it can also be utilized as a winter crop in the very southern regions of the US. Being a staple in many cultures around the world makes it a viable option for producers but seed that doesn't meet the human consumption market can be readily fed to livestock due to its high CP and low digestive inhibitors. Lentils provide producers an excellent crop choice to break up cereal crop rotations so they can break pest cycles. Mean while fixing N in the soil profile and obtaining a harvestable crop. Draw in the early season pollinators with lentil, since flowering occurs within just 60-70 days after planting. Within 3-4 weeks nodulation will begin on the roots and you will be well on your way towards producing an early season green manure crop.

*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent

Lentil thrives in cool, dry conditions where they can remain relatively free of disease, hints why they are commonly grown in the northern great plains. With a shallow rooting structure that doesn't have the ability to reach subsoil moisture, low water use and supports mycorrhizal fungi, makes lentils an excellent cover in front of cereals or deep rooting crops. Though not recommended to be grown for production in higher rainfall environments, if excessive moisture is present during the growing season it will delay plant maturity. This will be excellent for producers who want to plant a summer fallow mixture where the mix can continue to grow under ideal conditions. Lentil are known for their ability to emerge through thick cereal stubble due to their strong seedling vigor. With rapid seed germination, seedlings generally out grow the threat of insects or disease pressure during establishment. Throughout its life cycle, lentil provides a higher quality forage. Mature lentil straw is much higher in CP, digestibility and palatability when compared to cereal straws.

*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent

Lentils biggest potential flaw is that its a susceptible host for some plant diseases that also effect potato, brassica crops, sunflower, faba bean, field pea, field bean, soybean and sugar beet when to close in rotation. If utilizing in a mixture, naturally the risk of lentil causing a problem for the proceeding crop is reduced. Higher rainfall conditions aggravate disease presence. Grasshoppers are by far the biggest pest species, with minor pest issues from cutworm and aphids. Even with rapid emergence, lentils provide poor weed suppression due to limited growth and more erect vegetative growth. Root structure is relatively limited, with the potential to only reach 6-18" into the profile. With a very low C:N ratio, lentil will not provide much lasting residue. For many producers this could be a disadvantage when trying to protect the soil profile from the summer heat. A serious concern for lentils is it's susceptibility to residual herbicides. So please be aware of what chemicals may be in your field if lentils is a large portion of your mixture and give us a call to weigh your risk potential.

*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent

Getting lentil established is very easy to accomplish due to strong seedling vigor with the ability to break through heavy residue. Planting depth is very flexible for this crop, so plant in the ideal range, seed mixture or soil condition requirements. An ideal lentil seeding rate utilizing weight can widely vary between cultivars, so just keep in mind that a monoculture goal would be 400,000 plants per acre. Narrow row spacings are preferred due to improved growth and to aid with weed suppression. The most common time to plant lentil is in spring mixtures and to maximize growth potential, establish by April-May. Flowering will occur in 60-70 days so a March-April planting will provide your plants sufficient time to grow before the summer heat sets in. Observe your spring soil temperatures, as long as they maintain above 40F and aren't excessively saturated then get them in the ground. Seed hulls can be very easily damaged, so please be cautious if lentil makes up a large portion of your mix. If utilizing an air drill, minimize your air flow to a level that just keeps you from plugging but nothing more.

Lentil has the ability to be planted early in the season due to its late frost tolerance and can withstand temperatures dipping as low as 25F. If a young plant gets nipped by either event, lentil can regrow from nodes protect under the soil profile for another round of growth. Lentil can withstand a much larger pH and fertility range than most legume crops but it performs best between 6-8 pH in fertile well drained soils. Commonly lentil will be grown on more droughty or marginal crop ground due to its resilience and flexibility. You can grow them in sandy to heavy clay soils but the soil must have good internal drainage because flooded/waterlogged soils are detrimental to lentil roots. 6-10" of rainfall is required to grow this low water use species. Heat tolerance is a virtue for this cool season crop but lentil will preform best if temperatures remain below 80F. Lentil can be a very indeterminate crop unless severe stress is caused by drought, heat, frost, N deficiency, chemical desiccation or physical damage. If there's any salinity concerns in your soil, steer clear of lentil as it has no tolerance.

*Based on a 1-10 scale. 1 = Poor : 5 = Average : 10 = Excellent