All four of the researchers speculate that planting winter lentils with conservation tillage, for soil water conservation and surface residue protection overwinter, would probably be more important in areas with less annual precipitation and harsher winter conditions than at Pullman and Troy. Under drier, more severe conditions, the presence of crop stubble could be more important for thermal insulation and snow cover to protect the winter lentil. Increased snow trapping and reduced evaporation overwinter would also increase soil water storage compared to winter lentil seedings after more intensive tillage. This could potentially expand winter lentils into areas drier than the traditional lentil production region. The adaptation and management of winter lentils under conservation tillage in lower precipitation regions of the Inland Northwest is still largely speculation at this point.
Prospects appear quite promising, although continued research and evaluation is needed.
Reduced Soil Compaction in Spring Soil compaction can be a significant production limitation in the Northwest and is also believed to be an important contributor to soil erosion. Since potential for soil compaction sharply increases with increasing soil water content, spring field operations can significantly increase soil compaction problems. Growing more winter crops such as winter lentils, winter peas and winter rapeseed reduces potential for soil compaction. These crops are usually seeded when soils have a lower water content than in the spring and, consequently, reduce the potential for soil compaction. Avoiding Delays in Spring Seeding Another crop production limitation which may be overcome with winter lentils is wet spring soil conditions which delay spring seeding and consequently reduce yield potential.