Effects of Starter Nitrogen, Methanol and Bio fertilizers Application on Yield, Nodulation and Grain Filling Period of Rainfed Lentil

In order to study the effects of various rates of starter nitrogen, methanol, and bio fertilizers on nodulation, grain filling period, and yield of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) under rainfed condition, an experiment has been carried out as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications under field condition in Ardabil in 2018-2019. The factors include starter nitrogen in three levels (no nitrogen and N application of 25 and 50 kg/ha) by urea, bio fertilizers in four levels (without bio fertilizers, application of Rhizobium legominosarum, mycorrhiza and both application of mycorrhiza with Rhizobium legominosarum), application of methanol at three levels (foliar application with water and methanol applications of 15 and 30 volume percent). Means comparision show that the maximum  number and weight of nodules per plant (12.72 and 11.59 mg per plant, respectively), grain filling rate (1.45 mg/day), grain filling period and effective grain filling period (35.17 and 29.91 days, respectively), number of pod per plant (34.43), and grain yield (1530 kg/ha) have been obtained at both applications of mycorrhiza with Rhizobium legominosarum, foliar application of 30 volume percent of methanol, and 50 kg/ha of starter nitrogen. The treatments display an increase of about 210%, 25.64%, 45.76%, and 103% in the number of nodules per plant, grain filling rate, effective grain filling period, and grain yield, respectively, in comparison with the control (no application of nitrogen, methanol, and bio fertilizers). Based on the results from this study, both applications of bio fertilizers (mycorrhiza with Rhizobium legominosarum) and foliar application of 30 volume percent of methanol with 50 kg/ha starter nitrogen are recommended to improve grain yield of lentil under rainfed condition.