Effectsof Seed Quality and Water Deficit on Performance of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

The effect of seed quality on field performance of lentil under different irrigation treatments was investigated in 2010 at the Research Farm of the University of Tabriz، Iran. A sub-sample of lentil seeds was kept as control or high quality seed lot (V1 with %99 viability) and two other sub-samples with about 15% moisture content were artificially aged at 40°C for 18 and 22 days (V2with %90 and V3 with %80 viability، respectively). So، three seed lots with different levels of deterioration and quality were provided. Laboratory tests were carried out as CRD to determine electrical conductivity of seed leachatesand germination percentage. However، the field experiment was arranged as split-plot based on RCB design with three replications. Irrigation treatments (I1، I2، I3 and I4: irrigation after 70، 100، 130 and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan، respectively) and seed lots (V1، V2 and V3) were allocated to main and sub-plots، respectively. The results showed that electrical conductivity of seed leachates increased، but percentages of germination and emergence decreased with increasing seed deterioration. Days to flowering، plant height and number of branches per plantwere decreased as water supply reduced. Plants from vigorous seed lot (V1) were higher than thosefromlow quality seeds، but plants from low vigor seeds (V3) had more branches، due to low density. Plants from high quality seed lotproduced the highest grain yield per unit area. Therefore، it was concluded that cultivation of high quality seeds (V1) can increase lentil yield by improving seedling establishment.