Response of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) to phosphorus-A review

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) is an old world legume and probably one of the first plant species to be domesticated. Lentil is mainly cultivated in rainfed agro-ecosystems, where majority of soils are low to medium in available phosphorus (P), so lentil responds well to phosphorus fertilization. Higher phosphorus application stimulates the plant to increase the main root as well as lateral root length which enables the plant to take large volume of water from deeper soil layers. The symbiotic parameters i.e. nodulation, nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content are positively influenced by phosphorus application. Proper supply of phosphorus lengthens the lentil phenology i.e. maturity period, moreover it also influences the physiological parameters i.e. harvest index, leaf area index, net assimilation rate and crop growth rate. The optimum phosphorus application enhances the yield attributes such as number of pods per plant, grains per pod and 1000-grain weight, resulting in high production. Lentil occupies a unique position in the world of agriculture by virtue of its high protein content. Adequate supply of phosphorus increases the protein concentration and protein developing parameters i.e. albumins, globulins and prolamins. Higher phosphorus fertilization stimulates the plant to capture molybdenum (Mo) element from soil which is an important component of the nitrogenase enzyme and also manipulates the soil N and organic carbon status to maintain the soil fertility. Phosphorus application makes the plant resistant against diseases i.e. root rot, collar rot and wilt by morphological and physiological changes.