L 4076 (Lens 4076)
An IARI, New Delhi release (1993) from a PL 234 × PL 639 cross, recommended for the North West Plains and Central Zones. A bolder seed than the eastern masoor types, and often written simply as "L-407" in farmer lists.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Lentil (Masoor)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 130–140 days
- Seed rate
- Being a bolder-seeded type, 45–50 kg/ha (18–20 kg/acre) for line sowing — more weight than a small-seeded masoor at the same plant population
- Expected yield
- High — around 14 q/ha in its recommendation zones, higher under good management
- Suitable soil
- Black soil and well-drained loam; recommended for NWPZ and Central Zone
- Release
- Released 1993 · IARI, New Delhi · parentage PL 234 × PL 639 · recommended for NWPZ and Central Zone
About this variety
L 4076 (Lens 4076) is a lentil variety released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, in 1993, from a cross of PL 234 × PL 639. It is recommended for the North West Plains Zone (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh) and the Central Zone (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Maharashtra), and matures in about 130–140 days. It carries a bolder seed than the small eastern masoor types — around 28 g per 100 seeds — and is listed as resistant to rust and tolerant to wilt. In farmer variety lists it is frequently shortened to "L-407" or "L 407", which is the same variety; the full designation is L 4076. On black soils of central India and irrigated land in the north-west it is a well-established choice for a somewhat bolder dal grain.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeMid-October to mid-November across the north-west and central belt
- Seed rateBeing a bolder-seeded type, 45–50 kg/ha (18–20 kg/acre) for line sowing — more weight than a small-seeded masoor at the same plant population
- FertilizerAbout 15–20 kg N and 40–50 kg P2O5 per hectare basal, plus 20 kg S on light soils; no nitrogen top-dressing. Rhizobium and PSB seed inoculation
- HarvestingHarvest at about 130–140 days when plants yellow and lower pods dry brown; the bolder seed is prone to splitting, so thresh gently.
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
130–140 days
Expected yield
High — around 14 q/ha in its recommendation zones, higher under good management
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- A bolder seed than the small eastern masoor types, useful where the local dal market pays for grain size
- A long-established central and north-western zone variety with rust resistance and wilt tolerance
Things to consider
- Its wilt reaction is "tolerant", not "resistant" — on badly wilt-sick land it needs seed treatment and rotation, not reliance on the variety alone
- It is a 1993 release; on land where a newer variety is recommended and available for your zone, check whether that out-yields L 4076 under current conditions
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Madhya Pradesh
- Chhattisgarh
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
Is "L 407" the same as L 4076?
Yes — many farmer variety lists shorten Lens 4076 to "L-407" or "L 407". The formally released designation is L 4076, an IARI, New Delhi variety from 1993.
Where is L 4076 recommended?
The North West Plains Zone (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western UP) and the Central Zone (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, parts of Maharashtra). It is grown on black soils and irrigated land for a bolder dal grain.
Sourced from: ICAR-IARI — released lentil and chickpea varieties (Best Practices), Directorate of Pulses Development — Central released varieties of Lentil (Masoor). editorial policy.