Lentil (Lens culinaris Med.)

The lentil originated in the Near East and India. It is grown in areas with warm climate, in this country it is a minor crop.

Seeds

Importance and grain composition:

The lentil is used in food industry, dry seeds are used as part of the human diet. Lentil seeds contain about 25% crude protein, 45% nitrogen-free extract, most of which is starch, 4% crude fibre, 1.5% fat and 2-3% minerals. Content of antinutritional substances is low.

 Cultivation requirements:

The lentil is not warmth intensive unlike other legumes, especially in the end of the vegetation period. It requires lighter loamy-sand or sandy-loam permeable soils with a sufficient calcium supply. It is not demanding for a previous crop, however, those previous crops are not suitable that allow an increased weed infestation of soil.