EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATES OF PRESSMUD ON PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD OF LENTIL IN CALCAREOUS SOIL

A field trial was set up at Gomal University Research Farm, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during 2007- 2008 to asses the impact of pressmud on lentil yield and yield components. Four replicates of 8 treatments: control (no amendment), compound chemical fertilizer (NPK30:60:45 kg ha^-1) and pressmud applied at rate equivalent to 2, 4, 6, 10, 15 and 20 tons ha-1 randomly allocated to field plots sown with leguminous crop lentil (Lens culinaris L.) The soil was calcareous with an alkaline pH of 8 and organic matter content of 8 g kg^-1. The data showed that lentil yield and other plant parameters were influenced by the different rates of pressmud. Among the 8 treatments, the highest number of branches plant^-1 (11.8–12.0), pods plant^-1 (44.0–45.2), grains pod^-1 (1.7–1.8), grain yield (768–799 kg ha^-1), dry matter yield (1168–1250 kg ha^-1) and root length (12.0–12.6 cm) of lentil were recorded in treatments receiving NPK or pressmud at the rate of 10 ton ha-1.