LODGING IN LENTIL AS AFFECTED BY PLANT-POPULATION, SOIL-MOISTURE AND GENOTYPE

The effects of levels of soil moisture and plant population on lodging and associated losses from mechanical harvesting of two lentil genoty pes, one susceptible and one resistant to lodging, were investigated d uring 1986-87 and 1987-88 at Tel Hadya in northern Syria. High plant p opulation increased lodging because the crowded plants had thin stems, while high levels of soil moisture caused lodging because biological yield was increased. When biological yields were high a two tonne incr ease in biological yield led to a one point increase in lodging score. Mechanical harvesting increased losses in biological yield due to lod ging by 12% compared with yields obtained by hand harvesting under rai nfed conditions and by 24% at the highest level of soil moisture. It i s suggested that supplementary irrigation should be used in dry season s in trials to select genotypes resistant to lodging.