Lentil-based crop mixtures for yield optimisation

Summary

Such mixtures should help limit weeds, lodging, and bruchids, thereby improving gross margins by limiting yield losses.
Practical recommendations
• Lentils must be sown at the recommended density (300 to 400 seeds/m²), and the soil must be well prepared to ensure good contact between the soil and the seeds to guarantee a satisfactory germination rate (68% in our trials, with an average ranging from 45 to 98%).
• The density of the associated cereal (in this case barley) must not exceed 25% of that in a pure crop to limit competition with the lentils (Viguier, 2018).
• The target density for camelina should be around 50 plants/m², but due to the low germination rate (13% on average in our trials, ranging from 4% to 35%), it is recommended to sow camelina between 2-4 kg/ha.
• The mixture should be harvested as soon as possible and immediately sorted to remove any impurities, then treated by freezing or asphyxiation to kill weevils (see PA N°4).