Lentils A Pulse of the Palouse* V E R N E. Y O U N G M A N 2

Since its introduction in 1916, the lentil has become a commercially im. portant pulse in the Pctlouse area of eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho. Trials in the production area indicate that some recent introductions by the United States Department of Agriculture are well adapted to the area. Some of these lines may be useful in a breeding program on lentils.

The term "dry edible pulses" has generally been accepted by world traders as a title including all the dry edible legumes pro- duced on herbaceous stems. The more com- nmn pulses are dry beans, dry peas, lentils, garbanzos, cowpeas, soybeans, and several other less important species used occasional- ly for food. The purpose of this report is to record the history of one of these pulses, the lentil (Lens eseulenta Mocnch.), in the agri- cultural economy of the Palouse region of eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho and to present results of a varietal testing pro- gram in the production area.

The lentil, reported as being probably one of the first plants brought under cultivation, has been found in the ancient lake dwellings of St. Peters Island, Lake of Bienne, which are of the Bronze Age (1). Lentils have been discovered in Poland in sites dating from the Iron Age (9). Old Testament references have been noted by ]-Iutchinson (7). Hedrick mentions that Theophrastus described the lentil plant in his treatise Enq'airy into Plants (6). I t has been used for both human consumption and animal feed, and lentils have continued to be a very important food plant to thousands in Eurasia in the past few centm, ies (5).

Probable Origin Vavilov (10) states that the cultivated

form of the large-seeded lentil, L. esculenta Moeneh. var. macrosperma Baumg., origi- nated in the Mediterranean region. The medium-sized lentil, L. esculenta Moench.

l Scientific Paper No. 2966. Project 1616, College of Agriculture, Washington State Uni- versity.

2Formerly Assistant Agronomist, Washing- ton State University, now Associate Agrono- mist, Colorado State University.

Received for publication June 20, 1967.

var. syrica Bar., originated in the inner mountainous region of Asia Minor, where plants are characterized by shortness and few leaves. The smallest-seeded lentil, L. esculenta vat. afghanica Bar., on the other hand, is thought to have originated in the highlands of Afghanistan. Several wild spe- cies are cited by Vavilov as progenitors of the three types known today. They are L. lentieula (Schrcb.) Alef., L. nigricans (M.B.) Godr., L. kotsehyana (Boiss.) Alef., and L. orientalis (Boiss.) Hand.

Harlan (2) collected lentils from 57 prov- inces in Turkey during a collection trip in 1948. This collection, as well as other intro- ductions, is maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture Plant Introduc- tion Station at Pullman, Washington, for use by interested plant breeders. Harlan (3) indicated that only in Turkey do several of the agro-ecological groups defined by Vav- ilov come together geographically. He con- cluded that small areas, which he terms microcenters, are the areas in which evolu- tion is proceeding at a rapid rate at the present time. Mellaart's investigations of two archeological sites in Turkey, cited in a recent review by Harris (4), furnishes addi- tional information as to the importance of southwest Asia as a region of plant domesti- cation.

World Production Lentil production in 20 reporting coun-

tries in 1964 was estimated to be 18.9 million 100-pound bags. This was slightly less than 1963 but nearly 50% above the 1955-59 average. 3 Excluded from the Department of Agriculture estimqte is the unreported but sizable production in several African r

3 USDA Foreign Agricultural Circular FDP 5-65. March 1965.

135

136 ECONOMIC BOTANY

tries and any production in conuuunist East Europe and the Soviet Union.

The world's lentil production center is in Asia. Nearly 66% of the 20-country output in 1964 came from India, Pakistan, Turkey and Syria. :~ The smallest of these four, Syria, produced almost as much as all the Ameri- can producers combined and more than all the European producers.

The United States is now the largest lentil producer in the Western Hemisphere, the 1964 output being nearly 37 thousand tons as shown in Fig. 1. Before the 1960's, the United States was a net importer of lentils at an average level of 4500 to 5000 tons per year. These imports came principally from Chile. As a result of increasing domestic production, lentil imports of the United States have dwindled to little nmre than 1000 cwt bags annually. 4

Palouse Production Lentil production in Washington was first

reported in the Annual Crop Report in 1948. Lentils had been grown, however, in eastern Washington for several years prior to that date. The initial seeding in the Palouse area was in 1916, when J. J. Wag- ner planted two rows of a medium-sized lentil on his farm near Farmington. The seed had been received by a fellow church member from an itinerant Seventh-Day Ad- ventist pastor who, in turn, had obtained the seed from Europe. In 1917, an acre of lentils was seeded, harvested, and cleaned by Wag- ner. 5

4 USDA Foreign Agricultural Circular FDP 1-66. April 1966.

n Personal communication, Paul Wagner.

Lentils: Production in Pacific Northwest

,0. t [] Wash,

1000 2 0 ~ metric tons

0 59 60 61 6Z 63 64 65 66

Year

Plg. 1. Production of lentils in the Pacific Northwest showing annual production of Idaho and Washington.

The 1917 crop was sold at 9 �88162 per pound through the Garfield Trading Store to the B. L. Gordon Company of Spokane. According to Mr. Wagner 's records, the first crop re- turned $130. During the 1920's and early 30's, lentils were grown solely by the Wag- ner family. Most of the commodity was sold to various agencies of the Seventh-Day Ad- veatist Church. Prices ranged from 5r to 13r a pound. 5

The 1936 crop, comprising 250 acres, was sold to the Washburn-Wilson Company of Moscow, Idaho through a Spokane broker after repeated attempts by the firm to pur- chase the seed from Wagner. In 1937, the first commercial acreage of lentils was thus established in the Palouse area through con- tracts let by the Moscow, Idaho, firm. A cleaning plant specifically for lentils was put into operation at the Farmer 's Union Eleva- tor in Farmington, Washington in 1938. Between 1938 and 1948, acreage increased to 3,000 acres. The increase was accompanied by prices fall ing to a low of 3r a pound late in the period. "~

Wagner 's early planting was of a mediuln- sized seed or the Persian type lentil. In the late 1920's, he obtained seed of the larger type, known by the vernacular name "Chilean." Since there was an increased demand for a larger-seeded type, production shifted to the Chilean lentil. The seed ob- tained by Washburn-Wilson in 1936 for increase in the Palouse was thus the larger- seeded Chilean lentil.

The year 1941 marked an important change in the production of lentils in eastern Washington. I t was the last year in which stationary equipment was used to harvest the crop. Pr ior to 1941, the Wagners had stacked the lentils and threshed the commod- ity after the wheat had been harvested, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The cleaning of the lentils then was a project which was accom- plished during the winter months. In 1941, however, the use of a combine was employed for the first time to thresh the lentils frmn windrows. Lentils are now harvested with self-propelled combines.

The 1959 Census of Agriculture reports that California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wash- ington grow lentils. ~ In 1959, 24,000 acres of

6 Census of Agriculture: Volume 1, Parts 39, Idaho, and 46, Washington, 1959.

YOUNGMAN : L E N T I L S 137

Fig. 2. Lentil field depicting the manner in which the crop was cured after being mowed in the 1920's. (photo courtesy Paul Wagner, Farmington, Washington).

lentils were produced in Washington as com- pared with 18,000 acres in Idaho, (Fig. 1). A mere 32 acres were produced in the other two reporting states. Since no Idaho lentil acreage data are available prior to 1958, one can only assume that the increase in Idaho acreage from 1948-58 would be similar to the increases noted in Washington. Washington

lentil acreage data are available from 1948 to date.

Lentils grown in Washington and ad- jacent Idaho account for over 95% of the United States production and fluctuates from year to year (Fig. 1). Only 39,000 acres were harvested in 1961, whereas in 1964 a record 74,000 acres were harvested. ~

Fig. 3. Lentils were stacked after curing. Threshing was accomplished later in the fall (photo courtesy Paul Wagner, Farmington, Washington).

138 ECONOMIC BOTANY

Wheat allotments imposed in this area ac- count for some of this fluctuation. Eighty percent of the lentil production is grown in Spokane and Whitman counties in Washing- ton and in Benewah, Latah, and Nez Perce counties in Idaho~ according to the 1959 Census of Agriculture. 6

The yield of lentils has increased in recent years. The average yield per harvested acre in Washington was 685 pounds in 1959, 935 pounds in 1962, and 1,100 pounds in 1965. s Growers who have grown lentils for a period of years hope to average 900 pounds per acre, realizing that some harvests do better. Nearly all lentil acreage in Washington and Idobo is grown under a contract with proc- essing or marketing firms or both.

Cultural Practices Lentils are commonly planted with small

grain equipment in 7- to 12-inch rows. They are seeded in the spring and are an impor- tant legume in a crop rotation in which wheat is tile main crop.

Some hazards are experienced in produc- tion of lentils. Weeds may be a problem and are most effectively controlled by a continu- ing weed control program over the entire rotation. The vetch bruehid has on occasion caused damage to the lentil crop (8). Wilson and Brandsberg have isolated several fungi from diseased lentil seedlings (11).

The seed nmst have a low moisture content at harvest and is customarily swathed and allowed to cure in the windrow for seven to 10 days before combining. All of the lentil crop is harvested mechanically through the use of the same type of combine employed for cereals but equipped with a pick-up a~tachment for picking up the material from a windrow.

Methods for storing seed vary. Some len- tils may be stored in bulk bins on the farm. More commonly, however, the seed is deliv- ered to a local elevator, which cleans and bags the seed. Most of the cleaned seed is, therefore, stored in the bags to facilitate future use and shipment.

7 State of Washington Annual Crop Report. Star. Reporting Service, Seattle. State of Ida- ho Annual Crop Report. Stat. Reporting Serv- ice, Boise.

S State of Washington. Op. v/t. (See foot- note 7)

Variety Trials F o r the past six years, a lentil variety

trial has been seeded at Pullman, Washing- ton. Yield data as well as selected seed characters are presented in Table I . The large-seeded commercial lentil, known locally as the Chilean, is the most commonly used type. The smaller-seeded Persian lentil is grown by some area farmers, but to a much lesser degree. Also included in the trials have been lines of lentils obtained from the Plant Introduction Station, Pullman. These lines were chosen for either high yield potential or desirable vegetative or plant characters.

The highest yielding lines have been those with smaller seeds. The reluctance of the farmers to use the smaller-seeded Persian lentils results from the difficulties in market- ing the crop. Three lines consistently pro- duce lentils larger than Chilean. These lines, P.L 181886, P.I. 181949, and P.I. 251784, offer promise for increasing seed size in a lentil improvement program.

Several of the high yielding Plant Intro- duction lines have orange colored cotyledons and are referred to as "red lentils." I f a demand for this type of product develops, there are well adapted Plant Introduction lines which again can be effectively used in a lentil improvement program.

Summary In the past 25 years, the lentil has become

established as a pulse crop in the Palouse area of eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho. Lentils were first grown in 1916 by J. J. Wagner of Farmington, Washington and, until 1937, were grown and marketed by Mr. Wagner. In 1937~ commercial acreage was established.

Yields have increased in the area of pro- duction in recent years. Acreage fluctuates from year to year, controlled mainly by wheat allotments.

Trials conducted by The Washington State University have shown some Plant Introduetion lines to be superior to the commercially grown lentil. Advantages of yield and other desired characteristics may be utilized from this source and incorporat- ed into superior varieties.

YOUNGMAN : LENTILS

TABLE 1 LENTILS: SEED CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED LINES

IS TRIALS CONDUCTED AT PULLMAN, WASHINGTON, 1961-66.

139

Weight of Averaget Line or Plant Color* of 100 seeds, Years yield/acre,

introduction number Origin cotyledon (g.) in test lbs

P. I. 211 052 Afghanistan O 2.51 3 1675 P. I. 250 156 W. Pakistan O 2.53 3 1560 Persians Washington Y/O 3.26 6 1530 P. I. 250 153 W. Pakistan O 3.08 3 1530 P. I. 251 032 Iran O 3.08 4 1500 P. I. 211 602 Mghanistan 0 2.36 4 1460 P. I. 193 548 Ethiopia Y/O 4.28 4 1440 Giza Egypt O 3.42 3 1395 P. I. 181 886 Syria Y 6.73 4 1390 P. I. 169 518 Turkey O 3.20 2 1370 P. I. 251 248 Egypt 3.04 3 1340 P. I. 178 945 Turkey Y 3.23 4 1325 Chileans Washington Y/O 5.77 6 1305 P. I. 181 949 Syria Y 6.57 3 1230 P. I. 287 516 Turkey O 3.51 3 1225 P. I. 181 22 Turkey Y 5.27 4 1180 P. I. 251 784 Russia Y/O 6.84 6 1180 P. I. 179 309 Turkey Y 5.02 4 1160 P. I. 209 447 Costa Rica Y 4.32 4 1125 P. I. 251 786 Russia Y 2.10 3 730

* Y = yellow; O = orange; both letters, degree of mixture in line. Average of four replications in each test year.

$ Commercially grown.

Acknowledgments The author is indebted to Mr. Paul Wag-

ner fo r his assistance in providing photos and informat ion f rom fami ly records, to Mr. Wal te r Shore fo r the loan of wri t ings of J . J . Wagner , and to Mrs. Alonzo Wearne r for her informat ion about the use of lentils by the Seventh-Day Advent is t Church mem- bers. Thanks are due to the Uni ted States Depar tment of Agricul ture P lan t Int roduc- tion Station, Pullman, Washington, L. A. Mullen, Co-ordinator, fo r the supply of P lan t In t roduct ion lines used in the var ie ty tests.

L i t e r a t u r e C i t e d

1. DeCando]le, A. L. 1886. Origin of culti- vated plants lEd. 2] London, p. 322.

2. Harlan, J. R. 1950. Collection of crop plants in Turkey. Agron. J. 42: 258-259.

3. . 1951. Anatomy of gene centers. Amer. Nat. 85: 97-103.

4. Harris, D. R. 1967. New light on plant domestication and the origins of agri- culture: a review. Geogr. Rev. 57: 90-107.

5. Hedrick, U. P., ed. 1919. Sturtevant's notes on edible plants. N. Y. Agrie. Expt. Sta. Rept. p. 331.

6. - - . 1928. The vegetables of New York. J. B. Lyon Co., Albany, New York. p. 5.

7. Hutchinson, J., & R. Melville. 1948. The story of plants and their uses to man. Gawthorn, Ltd. London. Pp. 60, 65.

8. Schopp, R. J. 1953. Occurrence of the vetch bruchid in lentil seed. J. Econ. Entom. 45: 1100.

9. Szafer, W. 1966. The vegetation of Poland. Pergamon Press, Oxford. P. 614.

10. Vavilov, N. I. 1949-1950. The origin, varia- tion, immunity and breeding of cultivated plants. Chron. Bot. 13: (1-6). (Trans- lated by K. Starr Chester).

11. Wilson, V. E., & J. Brandsburg. 1965. Fungi isolated from diseased lentil seed- lings in 1963-64. Plant Disease Reporter 49: 660-662.