Mineral nutrient composition of lentil seeds

Researchers know little about the nutrient requirements of lentil crops. Information is scattered widely throughout the world literature and communication between different research groups has been relatively poor. Many studies containing useful data have not been devoted solely to lentils, or have been published in a language other than English. Certain data have been plagiarised and perpetuated somewhat uncritically and methods of analyses have differed widely. Here we review information already published and present data, for three genotypes which produced large yields, on the mineral nutrient composition of seeds and of the soil in which the crops were grown. Implications from the synthesis of published information and current data for crop improvement objectives in lentils are discussed.