Investigating the Effect of Weed Infestation intensity on the Yield and Growth of Lentil (Lens Culinaris)

Understanding the relationship between weeds and lentils is essential for effective weed management. an experiment was conducted in the growing season of 2017 in a field located in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus of Razi University, Kermanshah. At the early stages of crop growing, the field was monitored and different infestation levels of weeds were determined and six classes were determined. Class, one exhibited the lowest level of weed infestation, whereas class six showed the highest. Each class was treated as a separate treatment, with five replications conducted for each one. The results of our survey showed that the lentils yield, biomass and harvest index were significantly affected by the weed infestation levels in which up to 81% yield loss was observed with increasing weed infestation intensity. The maximum leaf area index of lentil was achieved at 50 to 60 days after emergence. The maximum lentil leaf area index was observed in the first and second weed infestation classes, and with the increase in the infestation intensity, the lowest amounts of lentil leaf area index was observed in the fifth and sixth classes. In addition, the accumulation of lentil dry matter in the first and second classes of weed infestation were more than the other classes. In general, due to the high vulnerability of lentil to competition with weeds, weed management until the lentil reaching the maximum leaf area index (day 50 days after emergence) is crucial.