THE EFFECT OF SOWING TIME, TILLAGE SYSTEM AND HERBICIDES ON WEED SPECIES DENSITY, WEED BIOMASS AND YIELD OF LENTIL WITHIN A LENTIL-WHEAT SEQUENCE

Weeds are the major constraint to lentil production in the South East Anatolia region of Turkey. Tillage systems, herbicides and the timing of such operations significantly influence the weed density and yield of lentil. Therefore, two field experiments which lentil was shown on October 19 (Early planting, T1) and November 23 (Late planting, T2) were conducted during 2009-2010 lentil growing season to evaluate the effect of various forms of tillage and herbicides, and the timing of such operations on weed density and lentil (Lens culinaris, L) yield after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvest in rain fed areas of the South-East Anatolia Region of Turkey. A Split plot design with four replications was used, in which three tillage method treatments [moldboard plough + cultivator + drill as conventional tillage (CT), cultivator + drill as reduced tillage (RT) and no-till planting (NT)] were main plots, and five herbicide applications [pre-emergence herbicide application after sowing to control the broadleaf weeds (PEH), post emergence herbicide application to control the grassy weeds (POH), pre-emergence after sowing to control the broadleaf weeds and post emergence to control the grassy weeds (PEOH), no weed control (NWC), hand weeding control (HWC)] were sub- plots. In the result of this study, it was found that late plantings which cultivator was used after rainfall reduced weed density and biomass dry weight, and gave significantly higher lentil seed than early plantings. No-till planting resulted in the highest weed biomass and the lowest lentil yield both early plantings and late plantings. The hand weeding control significantly resulted in the highest lentil yield.