Effect of Shading on some Important Physiological Traits in Lentil Crop

Light is one of the growth-reducing factors in mixed cropping and agroforestry systems. Therefore, an experimental field was conducted to justiffy the effect of light intensity on two lentil cultivars. It was performed in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Agricultural Research Station of Ilam University during 2012-2013 cropping season. The factors under study consisted of shading in four levels (0 shading, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of shadings) and two cultivars lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) (Ziba and ILL4400). Results showed that physiologic traits were significantly affected by cultivar × shading intraction. Ziba cultivar had the highest chlorophyll a and b content in 100% shading. Carotenoid content, relative water content and leaf area index also increased with increasing in shading. The highest and lowest carotenoid and relative water contents were observed in 100% shading × ILL4400 cultivar and control treatment × Ziba cultiva, respectively. The highest leaf specific weight observed in control treatment × Ziba cultivar and decreased with increasing shading. Grain yield decreased with increasing shading. The highest and lowest mean grain yield, 2522 kg.ha-1 and 1137 kg.ha-1, were observed in control treatment × Ziba cultivar and 100% shading and ILL4400 cultivar, respectively. Based on the results of this study, Ziba cultivar had the highest leaf area index, relative water content and chlorophyll a in higher shading treatments; hence, it can perform better than ILL4400 in mixed cropping and agroforestry systems where the light is limited factor.