Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) an important food legume in India- A Review

According to Indian Institute of Pulses Research’s Vision document, India’s population is expected to touch 1.68 billion by 2030 and the pulse requirement for the year 2030 is projected at 32 million tonnes with anticipated required annual growth rate of 4.2 percent. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is one of the most important pulse crops of the world that is consumed for its high protein and mineral content. The important lentil producing countries are Canada, India, Turkey, Nepal, Australia, China, Iran, the United States, Syria, and Ethiopia. It is generally grown as rain-fed crop during rabi season after rice, maize, pearl millet or kharif fallow. In North-eastern parts of the country, lentil is also cultivated as paira crop with rice. Pulses are the important sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals and are popularly known as “Poor man’s meat” and “rich man’s vegetable”, contribute significantly to the nutritional security of the country. Its cultivation would be able to provide 40-60 kg N ha^-1 to the succeeding crop. The leaves and immature stems can be used as a green manure. Fallen leaves can also be used as mulch and thus help to enhance the water holding capacity of soil.Pulse cultivation (specifically lentil) after the monsoon-rice harvest is delayed and further aggravated by higher infestation of diseases and insect/pests and forced maturity, resulting in lower yields. Additionally, lentil shares a vital part in India’s pulse import and export. Keeping all these in view the present review depicts the various aspects of lentil cultivation and its status in Indian trade on pulse.