The Past, Present and Future of Weed Problems in the Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Production in Turkey: Şanlıurfa Province Example

Abstract

Lentil is grown in dry areas in Southeastern Anatolia Region in Turkey by rotating with wheat or barley. This study was carried out in the Şanlıurfa province to determine the weed species and their densities in lentil fields. To determine weed prevalence and densities, 70 lentil fields were surveyed in 2014. The most prevalent species were ranked as; Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard), Avena sterilis L. (sterile oat), Cephalaria syriaca (L.) Schrader (Syrian cephalaria), Triticum aestivum L. (volunteer wheat), cleavers (Galium aparine L.) and Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert (cow soapwort) with the rates of 64.29, 55.71, 51.43, 50.00, 45.71 and 44.29%. Some geophytic and endemic species were also recorded in the area, although they were not high distribution and density. Compared with previous studies in the region, the weed species, the prevalence and intensity of these species have been changed significantly. It is predicted that these changes will increase further in the future in consequence of change in the crop and cropping pattern after the increase of irrigated areas and also chance in some agricultural practices, especially the use of herbicides.