Synergistic Effects of Phosphorus and Foliar Copper Treatments on Growth and Yield Attributes in Lentil
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of different phosphorus and copper doses and their interactions on the growth and yield parameters of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under field conditions in Siirt, Türkiye. Four phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60, 90 kg P ha⁻¹) and three foliar copper doses (0, 1, 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹) were tested in the study. The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the 2022-2023 season. Results revealed that phosphorus and copper applications significantly affected plant height, number of pods per plant, biological yield, and grain yield (p<0.01). The highest plant height (43.7 cm) was obtained from the combined application of 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹. Similarly, the highest number of pods per plant (87.7) was determined with 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 1 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹ treatments. The highest grain yield (2418 kg ha⁻¹) and biological yield (3024 kg ha⁻¹) were achieved with the combination of 30 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of phosphorus and copper, particularly under alkaline and phosphorus-deficient soils. While in individual applications the yield components reach the highest level at a dose of 60 kg P ha-1, co-application of copper with 30 kg P ha-1 provided the highest yield components. This presents an important result in terms of reduced phosphorus fertilization. Overall, the combined application of 30 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹ proved to be the most effective strategy for improving lentil performance in semi-arid conditions. However, 60 kg P ha⁻¹ is suggested in no copper-treated scenarios.
Keywords
Agricultural productivity, Fertilization, Lens culinaris, Plant nutrition, Semi-arid
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