Yield determination in lentil under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions: Phenology, dry matter distribution and yield attributes

Fifteen lentil genotypes were raised in field under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions during rabi seasons of 1998–99 and 1999–2000. Phenological days, dry matter distribution in plant parts at different phenological stages, mean environmental temperature and total degree days during were observed. Seed yield were higher under irrigated as compared to non-irrigated condition. Multiple regression between seed yield and different traits exhibited that all of them do not have significant contribution seed yield and seed yield determining factors are found to be different under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Under non-irrigated condition, lentil seed yield was determined by total dry matter production and its partitioning/day, mean temperature and total degree-days during podding to maturity. Under irrigated condition, lentil seed yield was determined by root dry matter at vegetative stage, total dry matter yield, per day dry matter production and its partitioning during seed filling period and total degree-days during flowering to podding. Multiple correlation (R) of traits was 0.9996 and 0.9984 and coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.9992 and 0.9964 under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions, respectively. Optimum values of the traits for seed yield maximization also varied amongst irrigated and non-irrigated conditions.