EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATES OF PRESSMUD ON PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD OF LENTIL IN CALCAREOUS SOIL

A field trial was set up at Gomal University Research Farm, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan during 2007-2008 to asses the impact of pressmud on lentil yield and yield components. Four replicates of 8 treatments: control (no amendment), compound chemical fertilizer (NPK30:60:45 kg ha-1) and pressmud applied at rate equivalent to 2, 4, 6, 10, 15 and 20 tons ha-1 randomly allocated to field plots sown with leguminous crop lentil (Lens culinaris L.) The soil was calcareous with an alkaline pH of 8 and organic matter content of 8 g kg-1. The data showed that lentil yield and other plant parameters were influenced by the different rates of pressmud. Among the 8 treatments, the highest number of branches plant-1 (11.8?12.0), pods plant-1 (44.0?45.2), grains pod-1 (1.7?1.8), grain yield (768?799 kg ha-1), dry matter yield (1168?1250 kg ha-1) and root length (12.0?12.6 cm) of lentil were recorded in treatments receiving NPK or pressmud at the rate of 10 ton ha-1.