Effect of row distances on the yield and some agronomic traits in two lines of lentil (Vicia villosa L.)

SinceVicia villosa is an important forage crop among forage plants in terms of cattle feeding, planting possibility in weak lands, resistance to cold, drought and grazing, as well as its role in soil fertility, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Iranian Dryland Agricultural Research Station in maraghehat 2007. Factors included two lines: A1v.d (2440) and A2v.d (2446), four row distances: B1 (17.5 cm), B2 (20 cm), B3 (22.5 cm) and B4 (25 cm). The results showed that 17.5 cm row distance caused the highest total dry matter weight and total seeds weight. Row distance of 22.5 cm led to the highest vegetation percent age that had significant difference with lower row distances. Fresh and dry biomass at flowering stage for 25 cm row distance were greater that 25 cm row distance, but it had no significant difference with other row distances. The greatest 1000 seeds weight was observed in 25 cm row distance, but it was only significantly different with 22.5cm row distance. Two lines had no differences in respect of all studied characteristics. Based on the results, 20 cm was considered as the best row distance to produce reliable forge atflowering stage.