Species mixtures for lentil production in Germany (ReMIX Practice Abstract)

Summary

Outcome
High-quality, ecologically, and efficiently produced lentils are a valuable local product and can be a second crop (cereals, false flax).
Practical recommendations
- Lentil production in Germany requires intercropping to reduce lodging, increase harvest efficiency and suppress weeds.
- Possible crop partners are barley, oat and false flax. Short oat varieties avoid competition with the lentil.
- A fine-grained seeding bed is required.
- Sowing from the beginning to the end of April with 55 kg/ha of lentil and 35 kg/ha of oat at a sowing depth of 4 cm (optimal seeding depends on local conditions).
- Five days after sowing, one pass of tine harrow to reduce weeds. Harvest after 120 days.
- Technical separation of lentil and oat is critical and requires machinery at multiple steps: a cyclone, a cylinder separator, gravity separator and possibly an optical sorter. Sharing the machinery among farmers or producing the mixtures in large quantities will help reduce separation costs.
Practical testing/ Farmers’ experiences
The company Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte organizes crop production, separation and marketing for 70 farmers. Products are marketed under the brand Alb-Leisa.