Front line demonstration on lentil using improved varieties for increasing productivity under lateritic soil of West Bengal

Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) on lentil using improved varieties WBL-58 and WBL-77 were conducted during winter seasons of the year 2013–14 and 2015–16 respectively in the adopted villages of Rathindra KVK, PSB, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum to showthehigher production potentiality. The demonstrations were carried out in 32 farmers'fields of 5 ha area and 79 farmers’ fields of 20 ha area during the year 2013–14 and 2015–16 respectively in irrigated medium land situation. The lateritic soils were sandy loam in texture having low in pH (6.0–6.4), O.C (0.39–0.47%) and available P₂O₅ (16–19 kg/ha) and medium in N and K content. Lentil seeds @ 30 kg/ha was sown in the month of November after harvesting of short duration paddy. The technology of improved variety viz. WBL-58 and WBL-77 increased the average productivity by 26.5% and 40.88% and increased the net return by Rs. 7, 900.00 with an improved B: C ratio of 2.71 instead of2.27 and Rs.15, 240.00 with an improved B: C ratioof3.74 instead of 2.95 than those of local check varietyAsha during the both the years respectively. Beside that soil health and soil nitrogen was also improved along with better nodulation in the demonstration plots. Thus the technology of improved variety of lentil may be accepted economically for better utilization of the residual soil moisture after short duration rainy paddy.