Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.5, 222-230 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 222 Review Article Open Access Integrated Management of Weeds and Pests in Large-Scale Lentil Cultivation Guanli Fu Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: guanli.fu@hibio.org Field Crop, 2025, Vol.8, No.5 doi: 10.5376/fc.2025.08.0022 Received: 11 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 22 Aug., 2025 Published: 13 Sep., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Fu, 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. Preferred citation for this article: Fu G.L., 2025, Integrated management of weeds and pests in large-scale lentil cultivation, Field Crop, 8(5): 222-230 (doi: 10.5376/fc.2025.08.0022) Abstract 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. Keywords Integrated weed and pest management; Lentil cultivation; Biological control; Sustainable agriculture; Crop protection strategies 1 Introduction In many developing countries, animal protein is outrageously expensive, yet lentils have become an important "role" in feeding people. This kind of bean is not only affordable but also nutritious-especially with a high protein content, it is often used as the main source of protein. Moreover, it can also help the soil "recharge" because it can fix nitrogen, which is simply a blessing in crop rotation in farmland. Lentils are widely grown in places like Asia, North America, Australia and Europe. Despite its unremarkable appearance, it can make a significant contribution to food security-especially in areas with insufficient meat supply, its role should not be underestimated (Ahmed et al., 2021). But things weren't that ideal either. Although lentils are easy to grow, they can cause big trouble when they encounter weeds and pests. In the early stage of growth, it develops slowly and has a relatively loose plant shape. It cannot compete with weeds for resources, especially nutrients, water and light. If weeds are not controlled, the yield loss is not just a little high-sometimes it can even drop by 60% to 70% (Alba et al., 2020). Moreover, weeds are prone to attracting insects and diseases, which is like adding insult to injury. Old problems like root rot and fusarium wilt always revolve around lentils. In some places, once the diseases break out, the yield can be cut in half (Tripathi, 2016). There aren't many chemical agents available for weeding lentils. When it comes to drug resistance, it's really hard to deal with. Management can easily get bogged down if not handled with care, especially in large-scale planting systems where complexity rises sharply (Pala, 2019). What this study aims to do is not to repeat how serious the problem is, but to examine the existing "combination of measures"-from farming methods, mechanical means to chemical and biological control-which combination is the most reliable, capable of effectively controlling weeds and pests, stabilizing yields, while also taking into account environmental protection and economic benefits. We will also sort out what blind spots still exist in the current practice and where future research can focus. After all, planting a lot does not necessarily mean good management.
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