Fertilizer Recommendations

A high proportion of N required by lentil will be fixed by Rhizobium - the rest is obtained from the soil. If you seed lentil in a stubble field, with a soil test level less than 20 lb N/acre the crop may benefit from nitrogen application. If the level of available N in a field is too high (greater than 50 lb/acre), N fixation will be inhibited, and the lentil crop will produce excessive vegetative growth at the expense of seed yield.

Inoculation of lentil seed follows the same procedure as that used for soybean.

Lentil requires phosphorus in relatively large quantity. The amount of phosphorus applied should be based on a soil test. It is recommended that phosphorus be side-banded rather than seed-placed. No more than 40 lb/acre of MAP (11-52-0 or 10-50-0) may be seed-placed. No other fertilizer is recommended with the seed, including DAP. If side-banding is not possible, then P rates should be broadcast or frontloaded on the P rate in the previous crop.