Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 6(6): 976-980, 2010 © 2010, INSInet Publication Effect of Composted Rice Residues and NPK on Yield and Yield Components of Lentil Grown in Sandy Soil El-kramany, M.F., Bakry, B.A., Elewa T.A and Zeidan, M.F. Field Crops Res. Dept. National Research Centre,Cairo, Egypt Abstract: Two field trials were conducted using lentil ( Lens culinaris L. ) variety Giza 370 at Research and Productions station, National Research Centre, Alemam Malek village, Al Nubaria district, Al Behaira Governorate, Egypt in 2008/09 and 2009/10 winter seasons. The experimental treatments were 100% recommended dose of organic fertilizer in the form of composted rice residues (4 ton/fed.). , 75 % rec. organic fertilizer + 25% NPK (3 ton/fed. + NPK 5:8:6). ,50 % rec. organic fertilizer + 50% NPK (2 ton/fed.+ NPK 10:16:12). ,25 % rec. dose of organic fertilizer + 75% NPK (1 ton/fed. + NPK 15:24:18). and 100 % rec. NPK (NPK 20:32:24). Results indicated significant differences between treatments in all studied characters. Treatment of organic fertilizer recorded the best results and NPK 20:32:24 came the second in yield and all yield attributes, it is identically ranged from 93% in number of capsules/plant to 98.5% in seed index from the best treatment. Key words: Lentil, composted rice, NPK fertilizer. INTRODUCTION The benefits of grain legumes in cropping systems are well established, they can fix substantial amounts of 2 atmospheric N which allows them to be grown in N- impoverished soils with low fertilizer N inputs. Lentil is one of the important seed legume crops worldwide i.e Asia and north Africa. In Egypt it ranks second after faba bean from the stand point of importance as legume crop, the cultivated area is relatively small (1096.38 feddan) with sharp decrease in Delta and Nile valley AERMAE . [1] Thus, new reclaimed sandy soil is suitable for lentil sown in Egypt to avoid the severe competition lentil acreage with other traditional and strategic winter feeding crops i.e wheat ( Triticum aestivum L) for humans and clover berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.) for animals on the limited arable land in Nile valley. Residues of rice crop in Egypt are estimated by 3.2 million ton/year, the above-ground residues are removed with the grain to be used as animal feed or cooking fuel, thus composted ash and residues of rice crop and reuse as organic fertilizer is one of the important target under Egyptian agriculture. For farmers to change their farming practices and retain such residues, they would need to be convinced that the residues have more values as a source of soil organic matter and nutrients for plant growth than as feed or fuel. Improved management of nitrogen N in low fertility soil is critical for increased land productivity and economic sustainability. Doran et al ., and Power et [4] al., concluded that returning residues to the soil may [12] be moderate extremes of soil temperatures and improve soil organic matter levels, soil structure and the infiltration, storage and utilization of soil water. Peoples and Craswell, stated that the above [11] –ground residues, remaining after the seed and other components of the crop have been harvested, represent a potentially valuable source of N for replenishing soil N pools. Elkramany and Bahr., ]6[ reported the best benefits of chickpea from organic fertilizer treatment. Shah et al., reported that grain [14] yield benefits of amendment crops residues for soil were 13% for mungbean and 8% for wheat and lentil, also, soil organic N and total organic were increased by N inputs from both N fertilizer and residues. Amujoyegbe et al., indicated significant [2] variability and diversity observed on yield and yield components of maize and sorghum due to mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizers source, El kramany et al., and Seema et al., stated superiority action ]5[ [15] of both bio-organic and chemical fertilizers (25% recommended NPK+75% FYM+biofertilizer) gave the best groundnut yield ,yield components and oil yield. El kramany et al., found that 50% of both [7] chemical and organic fertilizers recommended rates which were NPK 10:15:12 and 1.5 ton/fed. of composted rice residues and bio-fertilizer gave the best yield and yield components of chickpea sown in sandy soil compared to full dose of either NPK 20:30:24 or 3 ton/fed. organic fertilizer. Kabesh et al ., pointed that replacement 25% from [9] recommended dose of NPK by organic fertilizer of 2.5 m /fed. + Commerce product of bio-fertilizer 3 contain Azospirillum sp . gave the highest grain, straw Corresponding Author: El-kramany,M.F., Field Crops Res. Dept. National Research Centre,Cairo, Egypt 976