Guanli Fu

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Field Crop, 2025, Vol. 8, No. 5   
Received: 11 Jul., 2025    Accepted: 22 Aug., 2025    Published: 13 Sep., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Lentils are an important pulse crop that contributes significantly to global food security and sustainable agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, large-scale lentil production continues to face challenges from weeds and insect pests, threatening yield and profitability. This study provides an overview of the major weed species (such as Chenopodium album, Phalaris minor, and Convolvulus arvensis) and insect pests (including Helicoverpa armigera, aphids, and cutworms) affecting lentil fields in key growing regions of India, Canada, and Australia. The adverse effects of these biotic stresses on crop growth, development, and economic performance are explored. The concepts and principles of integrated weed and pest management (IWPM) are discussed, highlighting the ecological and economic benefits of combining cultural, biological, and chemical strategies. Promising technologies are highlighted, including remote sensing, artificial intelligence-based decision support systems, and the development of resistant varieties through molecular breeding. A case study from central India demonstrates the successful implementation of integrated weed and pest management (IWPM), which has increased yields, reduced pesticide use, and generated economic benefits for farmers. This study highlights the importance of site-specific integrated weed and pest management programs, supportive policy frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives to promote sustainable lentil production globally.

Integrated weed and pest management; Lentil cultivation; Biological control; Sustainable agriculture; Crop protection strategies